McClellan Statement on Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Confirmation as Secretary of HHS

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed at the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services:

“Parents should not have to worry that the top public health official in our nation spreads debunked conspiracy theories. They deserve clarity, especially when the well-being of their children is on the line.

“As a mother to two young children, I have serious concerns that the Trump Administration has placed our nation’s largest public health agency in the hands of an outspoken anti-vaxxer and misinformation superspreader who peddles racist tropes about Black people needing different vaccination schedules because they have different immune systems. 

“Today, Senate Republicans ignored his alarming track record and confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a decision that will erode public trust in our health systems and ripple into future generations.

“The well-being of all Americans will suffer because of RFK Jr., and his embrace of harmful, anti-science theories will have a particularly detrimental impact on communities that already face disproportionate barriers to care. 

“The Secretary of Health and Human Services should be a leader who will fight to expand healthcare access, address existing disparities, and strengthen trust in science. Mr. Kennedy is not that person.”