Robert Kennedy Jr.’s Senate hearing for his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is scheduled for next Wednesday.

While his confirmation remains uncertain, former President Donald Trump is already implementing policies that align with Kennedy’s controversial views on public health.

Kennedy, a prominent vaccine skeptic and former Democrat, has garnered cautious optimism from some Democrats who point to his advocacy for healthy eating.

However, critics have warned that such rhetoric serves as a distraction from a broader agenda to undermine preventive medicine. Recent actions from Trump’s administration appear to validate those concerns.

One of Trump’s first moves since taking office was to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), a body he has criticized since 2020 for contradicting his claims about COVID-19.

Kennedy, who has a long-standing opposition to the WHO, has publicly condemned its global vaccination efforts and initiatives to combat HIV, expand access to birth control, and support healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Kennedy has propagated the debunked claim that HIV is caused by “lifestyle” choices, despite global evidence showing most HIV-positive individuals are women and girls.

Trump has also targeted the National Institutes of Health (NIH), implementing policies that could significantly hinder disease research and prevention.

According to Science, the administration has imposed hiring freezes, communication restrictions, and canceled grant review panels.

These disruptions threaten the NIH’s ability to fund critical studies in disease prevention and treatment.

Kennedy’s remarks at an anti-vaccine conference last year foreshadowed this direction.

“We’re going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years,” he declared, signaling an intent to deprioritize efforts to combat illnesses.

Critics argue that Trump’s actions against the NIH align with Kennedy’s vision of diminishing the nation’s capacity to address infectious diseases.

Shortly after taking office, Trump’s administration removed an HHS-run website providing information on reproductive rights.

The site offered resources on abortion access, birth control options, and insurance coverage mandates.

While Kennedy has occasionally voiced pro-choice sentiments, his recent meetings with anti-abortion Republicans suggest he may support their agenda, including potential efforts to revoke FDA approval of abortion pills.

Further alarming public health advocates, congressional Republicans are exploring a $100 billion cut to Medicaid, which currently covers nearly 1 in 5 Americans.

Simultaneously, billionaire Elon Musk’s “government efficiency” study group has reportedly proposed substantial cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While political resistance to slashing these programs remains strong, the proposed reductions reflect a broader push to shrink federal healthcare support.

In response to public outcry, the Veterans Affairs department issued an exemption from Trump’s federal hiring freeze for healthcare roles.

The hiring freeze had already disrupted operations, with one notable instance involving a rescinded job offer to the wife of MAGA influencer John Basham, who took to social media to plead for its restoration.

ATTENTION PLEASE HELP: @POTUS Trump & @SenTedCruz!
My Wife Is A Nurse & Was Recently Hired By The VA. Our Home Is Packed Up, We Have A New Home, Have Spent Thousands To Move Our Family From Ft. Worth To Waco!
Following Trump’s Hiring Freeze EO, VA Rescinded Her Job Offer!
My Wife… pic.twitter.com/NeYtdflAhv

— John Basham (@JohnBasham) January 21, 2025

Trump also signed an executive order this week to undo President Joe Biden’s initiatives to lower the prices of common prescription drugs.

Critics argue this move reinforces the administration’s vision of healthcare as a privilege for the wealthy rather than a universal right.

Kennedy’s critics assert that his focus on nutrition and exercise serves as a pretext to blame individuals for their health outcomes while deflecting from structural issues in healthcare access.

His hostility toward vaccines and infectious disease research aligns with Trump’s policies, raising concerns that, if confirmed, Kennedy would further erode public health infrastructure.

As the Senate hearing approaches, Kennedy’s record and Trump’s policy trajectory are fueling debates over the future of public health in America.

Critics warn that the combined agendas of Trump and Kennedy could significantly restrict access to healthcare for millions, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.