December 9, 2024 To the Members of the United States Senate: We, the undersigned Nobel laureates, respectfully write to request that you object to the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) ) Minister. The proposal to put Mr. Kennedy in charge of the federal agency charged with protecting the health of American citizens and conducting medical research that benefits our nation and all humanity has been widely criticized on many fronts. In addition to his lack of medical, scientific, public health or administrative qualifications or relevant experience, Mr. Kennedy has consistently opposed many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those to prevent measles and polio; established enthusiasm for the fluoridation of drinking water Critics of influence; promoters of conspiracy theories about wildly successful treatments for AIDS and other diseases; and fierce critics of respected institutions, particularly the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health . DHHS leaders should continue to nurture and improve—not threaten—these important and respected institutions and their employees. Given his record, putting Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would put the public’s health at risk and undermine America’s global leadership in health sciences across the public and commercial sectors.
