RFK's Confirmation is a Blow to Our Health

USA already has the lowest life expectancy in the developed world and RFK will likely increase that disparity—here's how to protect your health

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is one of the most critical positions in the federal government, responsible for overseeing the nation’s public health, social services, and healthcare systems. This role involves managing agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH, all of which are central to safeguarding the health and well-being of millions of Americans—as we learned first hand during COVID. And now, due to a near unanimous MAGA vote, that role has been handed to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a man with zero experience in health policy and an open hostility to medical science. Here’s what you need to know about RFK, the health crisis we likely face with him at the helm, and how to better protect your health and safety. Let’s Address This.

RFK Is An Anti-Science Extremist

Notwithstanding that RFK is not a physician or any man of science, he also brings with him zero experience in health policy. Even worse, his actions have led to mass death. Yes, Kennedy is an anti-vaxxer whose dangerous propaganda reportedly fueled a devastating measles outbreak in Samoa, resulting in unnecessary suffering of thousands and death of nearly 100 children.¹ And just like Trump and Pete Hegseth (Trump’s wholly unqualified Secretary of Defense), Kennedy too, is a credibly accused sexual predator.² Elevating someone like Kennedy to oversee America’s healthcare system, especially as up to 1000 Americans a day are still dying of COVID, is a surefire way to increase death and suffering.

As an aside, some are praising Mitch McConnell for voting against RFK. McConnell survived polio as a child and voted no on RFK because he recognized the anti-vaxxer propaganda RFK put forth. Here’s the thing. There is no one person more responsible for Trump getting back to the White House than is McConnell. This hypocrite stood on the Senate floor and declared, “There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day”—then still refused to convict him of his violent treasonous act. Moreover, if the only time you vote against an injustice is when that injustice hurts you in particular, then you have no pace serving in public office. And let’s not even begin to discuss McConnell’s treachery in stealing SCOTUS seats, refusing to confirm Federal judges, and abolishing the filibuster when convenient for his agenda, but enforcing it when harmful to the Democratic agenda.

Everything we're seeing now is a result of McConnell's cruelty, cowardice, and hypocrisy. He's no hero. He's literally the one who enabled this, so please, praise him not. And because of McConnell’s enabling, we face another potentially major crisis in accessing life saving mediations.

The Potentially Major Impact On Our Meds

Few in corporate media have discussed the issue of medication access under RFK. Yet, this is an issue so significant that it could undermine the very access we all need to countless life saving medications to live. Fortunately, my colleague, fellow lawyer, and fellow writer

Elizabeth Booker Houston

thoughtfully explains this issue:

The FDA has remained relatively untouched compared to other HHS divisions because over half of its funding comes from industry user fees, not congressional appropriations. This allows much of the FDA’s operations to continue even during a government shutdown. These user fees come from industries like pharmaceuticals, tobacco, and medical devices, with the current terms lasting until 2027. Over-the-counter drugs are authorized until September 30, 2025, and tobacco fees require no reauthorization.

Booker Houston then explains the risk we face with RFK’s confirmation:

These agreements are negotiated between the FDA and industry because they are about more than just market access—they grant exclusivity rights tied to patents, making billions of dollars for companies. If Trump’s administration, especially with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., disrupts these carefully negotiated deals, expect a courtroom bloodbath. Big Pharma won’t hesitate to fight back, and we’ll see how much taxpayer money this "cash-poor" administration burns in legal battles against the industry's deep pockets.

Given how the Trump regime continues to cut vital programs and departments, I have zero confidence that they’ll work to improve these deals, but rather, they’ll destroy them altogether. So I say this as someone who already remains openly critical of our corrupt for profit system—the Trump regime’s record is they will find a way to make it yet worse.

The United States already suffers the worse life expectancy in the developed world, the highest maternal mortality in the developed world (and 300% higher for Black and Indigenous women), and the highest infant mortality in the developed world (again, 300% higher for Black and Indigenous children). The MAGA decision to confirm RFK to HHS Secretary is a warning that our collective national health will get worse. Here are some actions you can take now to better protect yourself.

Steps to Protect Your Health and Healthcare

The bottom line is we cannot reasonably rely on the Federal Government to enact good health policy with RFK at the helm of our health policy. This will require us to be that much more diligent to protect our own health and well-being. Here are some suggestions to consider:

1. Speak with your physicians now and ensure you have a clear path to access the medications you know you and your loved ones will need. Perhaps that means stocking up on critical medications as best as you can. Or, finding alternative locations (and countries) from which to procure that medication. Or perhaps finding alternative proven medications altogether. Whatever the case, speak with your physician now to ensure you have a game plan.

2. Speak with your insurance company to ensure you understand what changes are coming. The Trump regime is already working to defund and repeal the Affordable Care Act. Take the time to recognize the changes coming so you can plan ahead, and have the time to build a back-up plan as needed.

3. Wear a mask whenever possible, especially in crowded spaces. Prevention is better than cure. With COVID still devastating lives, and the flu with one of its worst years on record, a mask is literally life saving. Studies show that wearing a mask can prevent COVID infections by an astounding 83%.³

4. Get your COVID and flu shots regularly. And get the shots for your loved ones as well. The CDC reported in 2024 that flu shots decreased hospitalizations for people across all age groups by 50% or more.⁴

5. Contact your State representatives to push them to pass state based health coverage, especially as federal coverage is stripped away. Encourage your State government to fill in the gaps where federal coverage is lacking, especially as the Trump regime has instructed White House cabinet members to prioritize red states over blue states in funding access.

6. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and drink plenty of water. This is just good advice in general in any given situation, and certainly applies now.

To be candid, we have a dangerous road ahead of us, and we must remain vigilant to protect our healthcare, and the health and well-being of our loved ones. Already in Gaines County, Texas, a measles outbreak has 24 confirmed cases, with 9 hospitalizations—all unvaccinated.⁵ Gaines County voted 91% for Donald Trump. A reminder that vicious diseases don’t care what political party we belong to, or what part of the country we live in. Let us continue to uphold good health and good policy based on science and facts, even if our HHS Secretary won’t.

1. https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/politics/video/rfk-jr-vaccine-measles-outbreak-samoa-digvid

2. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1rw8d0p2j7o

3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm

4. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/whats-new/2023-2024-vaccines-reduce-medical-visits.html

5. https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-02-13-measles-outbreak-hits-texas-cdc-says-most-cases-nationwide-are-among-unvaccinated#:~:text=The%20Texas%20Department%20of%20State,are%20unvaccinated%2C%20the%20agency%20said.