President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as secretary of Health and Human Services has raised concerns among many Americans.
Will Humble is the former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services and says Kennedy poses a threat to several health programs.
Humble cited Kennedy’s staunch anti-vaccination beliefs and his vow to remove fluoride from drinking water.
Humble says Kennedy sticks to his beliefs rather than using evidence.
“He's got a long track record of honestly using folklore rather than science to form opinions about what he thinks should be public policy," he said.
Humble notes Kennedy would have oversight over the government’s most pivotal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA and National Institutes of Health.
As for an ideal candidate for the secretary position, Humble says a good administrator who makes “evidence-based decisions” would be a good fit.
“You don't need to be a scientist to be a good director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but you do have to believe in science and evidence for driving policy decisions, in my opinion," he said.
Despite his criticisms, Humble says Kennedy’s idea of reforming the SNAP program to avoid unhealthier foods is a good idea.
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