By Michael Erman and Stephanie Kelly, for Reuters
Robert F Kennedy Jr at the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on 20 January. Photo: AFP/ Julia Demaree Nikhinson
- Letters of protest sent to senators voicing opposition to Kennedy
- 314 Action group launches US$250,000 ad campaign across eight states opposing Kennedy
- Mike Pence-founded group opposes Kennedy over past abortion rights comments
In the United States, more than 80 organisations have voiced opposition on Friday to Robert F Kennedy Jr's nomination to lead the top US health agency ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing next week, while the group 314 Action have launched a six-figure advertising buy, to influence Republican senators against Kennedy.
The US$250,000 ad campaign for 314 Action will run across eight states in an effort to persuade Republican lawmakers - including Senators Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, Bill Cassidy from Louisiana and John Curtis from Utah - that Kennedy's past comments spreading misinformation on vaccines represents a danger to US public health.
The senators will have the opportunity to question Kennedy about his nomination to lead the US Health and Human Services Department at his hearing on Wednesday.
"Senators on both sides of the aisle have a responsibility to hold him accountable," said Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action, which aims to elect Democrats with a background in science to public office.
Meanwhile, consumer group Public Citizen and healthcare coverage advocacy group Protect Our Care co-wrote a letter sent on Friday to all 100 US senators, urging them to announce their opposition to Kennedy. They recruited 85 other non-governmental groups to join the letter, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, the NAACP and the National Organisation for Women.
"If Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. takes command of the Department of Health and Human Services, we will face lies and disinformation at an unprecedented scale that are capable of unwinding a century of progress on fighting disease and promoting public health," the letter said, which has been seen by Reuters.
Republican President Donald Trump announced his choice of Kennedy in November for the position.
Most of the opposition to Kennedy is driven by his stance on vaccines, but a group founded by former Republican Vice President Mike Pence also objects to Kennedy's comments in support of abortion rights.
A spokesperson for Kennedy and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
With Republicans holding a slim three-seat majority in the Senate, the party wants to ensure unity behind Kennedy, and no Republican senator has so far voiced opposition.
Kennedy has long sown doubts about the safety and efficacy of vaccines that have helped curb disease and prevent deaths for decades. He disputes the anti-vaccine characterisation and has said he would not prevent Americans from getting inoculations.
But he has led the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defence, and in a 2023 interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, said no vaccines are safe and effective.
Kennedy has said he wants to work to end chronic disease, break any ties between employees at the US drugs regulator and industry, and advise US water systems to remove fluoride.
Kennedy has faced new scrutiny over his ties to Wisner Baum, a law firm specialising in pharmaceutical drug injury cases. Kennedy has an arrangement to earn 10 percent of fees awarded in contingency cases he refers to the firm, according to a letter Kennedy wrote to an HHS ethics official released on Wednesday.
If confirmed, Kennedy would retain that financial interest in cases that do not directly impact the US government, the letter said.
- Reuters
