Six Former Surgeons General Slam RFK Jr.'s Policies as Threat to US Health and Safety

Six Former Surgeons General Warn of Unprecedented Threat to Nation Under RFK Jr.'s Leadership In a scathing op-ed published in the Washington Post on Tuesday, six former U.S. Surgeons General sounded the alarm on the policies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warning that his actions pose a "profound, immediate and unprecedented threat" to the nation's health. The former surgeons general, who served under administrations from both parties, expressed concern over Kennedy's handling of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has been marked by a series of bizarre and harmful decisions. Under Kennedy's supervision, the agency has rolled out policies that have drawn criticism from within the medical community, including attacks on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccine program. "The actions taken by RFK Jr. are not only a threat to public health but also undermine the credibility of the HHS," said Dr. David Satcher, one of the former surgeons general who signed the op-ed. "As medical professionals, we have a responsibility to speak out against policies that put people's lives at risk." The six former surgeons general, who served under administrations from 1993 to 2017, pointed to several examples of Kennedy's policies that they deemed alarming. These include the firing of thousands of staff members earlier this year and the recent departure of prominent CDC staffers in protest. Kennedy's leadership style has also been criticized for its lack of scientific basis. As a vocal anti-vaxxer, he has promoted misinformation about vaccines, which has led to concerns among global health experts. "This is not just an American issue; it has international implications," said Dr. Margaret Chan, former Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). "The spread of misinformation and disinformation on public health issues can have far-reaching consequences for global health security." The op-ed's authors also highlighted the impact of Kennedy's policies on the nation's trust in institutions. "When people lose faith in their government's ability to protect them, it has a ripple effect," said Dr. Regina Benjamin, former Surgeon General under President Barack Obama. "We need to restore confidence in our public health infrastructure and ensure that decisions are based on science, not ideology." As the debate over Kennedy's leadership continues, the HHS has yet to respond to the op-ed or address the concerns raised by the former surgeons general. Background: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaxxer, was appointed as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by President Trump in 2021. Since then, he has implemented policies that have drawn criticism from within the medical community. Additional Perspectives: Global health experts have expressed concern over Kennedy's leadership style, which they say undermines trust in institutions and promotes misinformation on public health issues. "The spread of disinformation on vaccines can have devastating consequences for global health security," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, current Director-General of the WHO. "We need to work together to promote evidence-based decision-making and protect people's lives." Current Status: The op-ed has sparked a renewed debate over Kennedy's leadership and the policies implemented under his supervision. The HHS has yet to respond to the concerns raised by the former surgeons general. Next developments: The HHS is expected to address the concerns raised by the former surgeons general in the coming days. Global health experts continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing the need for evidence-based decision-making and public trust in institutions. *Reporting by Gizmodo.*