FILE – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s option to be Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, seems earlier than the Senate Finance Committee for his affirmation listening to, on the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025
Ben curtis/AP
cover caption
toggle caption
Ben curtis/AP
One of many world’s main medical journals has issued a scathing rebuke of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to mark his first yr main the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies.
The editorial — titled “Robert F. Kennedy Jr: 1 yr of failure” — seems within the newest difficulty of the Lancet.
A quote from the piece marks an in any other case clean entrance cowl: “The destruction that Kennedy has wrought in 1 yr may take generations to restore, and there’s little hope for US well being and science whereas he stays on the helm.”
The journal’s editorial board catalogues lots of the controversial actions taken underneath Kennedy’s watch, together with the dismissal of company workers, “revisions of tips and suggestions contradicting a long time of established science,” cuts to cutting-edge scientific analysis, the undermining of vaccine coverage and promotion of “junk science and fringe beliefs.”
The Lancet is among the oldest peer-reviewed medical journals in circulation. It additionally boasts one of many highest influence components, making it one of the vital cited medical journals on the planet.
An HHS spokesperson did not instantly reply to NPR’s request for touch upon the brand new editorial. Nevertheless, Secretary Kennedy has made no secret of his disdain for mainstream medical journals.
In a podcast look final yr, Kennedy mentioned authorities scientists have been “in all probability going to cease publishing” in a few of the most high-profile journals — together with the Lancet — “as a result of they’re all corrupt” and beholden to the pharmaceutical trade.
He is even threatened authorized motion in opposition to journals.
Allies of Kennedy shortly got here to his protection — amongst them Nationwide Institutes of Well being Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
“Sec. Kennedy is fixing the mess they helped make,” he wrote on X in response to the editorial.
Others, together with critics of Kennedy, identified the Lancet is similar journal that when revealed the notorious — and discredited paper — by Andrew Wakefield claiming a hyperlink between vaccines and autism. Greater than a decade later, the journal retracted the paper.
The editorial comes simply because the nation has crossed a sobering milestone.
On Friday, the U.S. surpassed greater than 1,000 measles circumstances in 2026 alone, in accordance with the most recent knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
The escalating outbreaks throughout the nation makes it seemingly the U.S. will quickly lose its measles elimination standing.
The Lancet editorial begins by citing Kennedy’s pledge, when he took the job as secretary, to revive belief in public well being and have “sincere engagement with everybody prepared to work in the direction of making the USA wholesome once more.”
However Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar on the Middle for Well being Safety at Johns Hopkins, says “no one needs to be stunned” by the actions taken by Kennedy.
“You principally have essentially the most prolific anti-vaccine advocate within the highest place of energy within the federal authorities in relation to well being,” he informed NPR.
