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RFK Jr. says ‘whole departments’ at FDA ‘must go’

Online Niel November 7, 2024

Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is slated for a potentially important role in a new Trump administration, said Wednesday that there are “entire departments” within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that “have to leave”.

“In some categories … there are entire departments, like the nutrition department at the FDA … that need to go, that are not doing their job, not protecting our children,” Kennedy said during an interview on MSNBC.

Kennedy endorsed President-elect Trump in August after initially running as a Democratic candidate for president and then as an independent.

Trump’s victory in the presidential race makes Kennedy himself the winner, who is likely to play some sort of health care role for the Trump administration.

Kennedy he said last week Trump assured him that he would get a role in the White House if he won the presidential election.

“We don’t know what I’m going to do. I talked to the president about it yesterday and he asked me what I wanted and I told him we’re working on a proposal right now,” Kennedy said during a separate interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum, who asked if Kennedy was getting the job of Secretary of State. Health and Human Services.

That job would require Senate confirmation. Republicans appear likely to have a Senate majority of at least 52 seats, but it is unclear how easy it would be to confirm Kennedy. There has been much speculation that Kennedy would serve in a role that does not require Senate confirmation.

Howard Lutnick, co-chairman of Trump’s transition team, Kennedy said recently “don’t get a job” as HHS leader.

When asked if he would eliminate any health agencies, Kennedy told MSNBC, “To eliminate agencies, as long as it takes congressional approval, I wouldn’t do that.”

“I can remove corruption from the agencies,” he added.

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