WASHINGTON: Seventy-seven Nobel prize winners on Monday sent an open letter to the US Senate opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing his \u201clack of credentials\u201d and anti-vaccine beliefs.
\n\u201cIn view of his record, placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would put the public\u2019s health in jeopardy,\u201d concludes the letter signed by 77 Nobel recipients in medicine, chemistry, physics and economics.
\nAmong the signatories is Drew Weissman, who received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on developing mRNA vaccines, which was a major breakthrough in the fight against Covid-19.
\nKennedy, a nephew of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy Jr, made his own White House run earlier this year before throwing his support behind Trump.
\nIn return, Trump has tapped him to oversee the part of the executive branch in charge of health and medicine \u2014 though his selection must be approved by a majority of the US Senate, as outlined by the Constitution.
\nAn environmental lawyer by trade with no medical background, Kennedy has spent years professing conspiracy theories linking vaccines and autism, and most recently spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.
\nHe has said if he is confirmed for the position he will work to remove fluoride from tap water in the US, despite its addition being considered a major victory against bacteria causing tooth decay.
\n\u201cIn addition to his lack of credentials or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health, or administration,\u201d the letter reads, \u201cMr. Kennedy has been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio.\u201d
\n\u201cWe strongly urge you to vote against the confirmation of his appointment,\u201d the letter said.
\nKennedy is far from the only Trump cabinet nominee to stir controversy.
\nAmong the most notable is Pete Hegseth, a Fox News anchor tapped to lead the Department of Defense, who has seen his nomination derailed with sexual assault allegations and rumors of excessive drinking.
\nAnd Trump\u2019s first pick for Attorney General, former US Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew after further scrutiny emerged of alleged sexual relations he had with a minor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON: Seventy-seven Nobel prize winners on Monday sent an open letter to the US Senate opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing his \u201clack of credentials\u201d and anti-vaccine beliefs. \u201cIn view of his record, placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":448486,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-448472","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n