Turmoil in healthcare bureaucracy was a ‘given’ once RFK Jr arrived at HHS
The article discusses political correspondent Byron YorkS commentary on the recent turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. York suggests that upheaval within the healthcare bureaucracy was certain once Kennedy took charge, given his long-standing skepticism of vaccines and controversial views predating COVID-19. The article highlights Kennedy’s push for the removal of CDC Director susan Monarez over vaccine policy disagreements, which led to resignations and Monarez’s escorted departure from CDC headquarters. Jim O’Neill was named acting CDC director amid the turmoil. York notes that Kennedy’s persistent focus on issues such as autism and vaccines challenges evidence-based health policy and is likely to require intervention from higher political authorities soon. Critics warn that Kennedy’s leadership risks undermining public health efforts, while supporters believe he challenges entrenched federal health agency interests. The white House plans to reveal more details about Kennedy’s public health agenda, including autism research and environmental factors, perhaps intensifying conflicts with the medical community.
Byron York says CDC turmoil was ‘a given’
Washington Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York weighed in on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shake-up under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership, saying, “turmoil in the healthcare bureaucracy was pretty much a given.”
“If this were only about coronavirus, and the vaccine for coronavirus, I’m not sure the politics of it would be quite the same,” York said, pushing back on the narrative that Kennedy is solely focused on anti-vaccine ideology.
“We know RFK Jr. has been a vaccine skeptic for a very, very long time, long before COVID and turmoil in the healthcare bureaucracy was pretty much a given, once he arrived as head of HHS. He’s not going to change his ideas,” York said on Fox News’s Special Report Thursday.
OPINION: RFK JR.’S WAR ON VACCINES AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES
His comments come after Kennedy set off a wave of resignations and turmoil at the CDC this week by pushing for the removal of Director Susan Monarez only a month into her tenure, reportedly over vaccine policy disagreements.
The standoff culminated with Monarez being escorted from CDC headquarters in Atlanta along with two senior officials. Kennedy’s deputy, Jim O’Neill, was named acting director.
“He still goes on about autism, and vaccine, and other issues,” York said. “This is something the president is probably going to have to settle, and I think it’s going to get to that level really soon.”
Kennedy is no stranger to controversy. He is well-known for his long-standing skepticism of vaccine safety and promotion of theories that have drawn sharp criticism from the medical community. Before his appointment to lead HHS, Kennedy raised alarms by claiming vaccines are linked to autism, a view that is widely discredited by medical science.
OPINION: RFK JR.’S REPREHENSIBLE ANTI-VACCINE CRUSADE
His critics argue that his leadership poses a risk to evidence-based health policy, while his supporters say he is confronting entrenched interests and voicing concerns long ignored by federal health agencies.
The White House said it will provide more details in September regarding Kennedy’s public health agenda, including a controversial focus on autism research and environmental factors, setting the stage for potentially even more friction between Kennedy’s team and the medical establishment.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
