Opinion: Why U.S. Sens. Fetterman, McCormick must vote ‘No’ on RFK Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not fit to run America’s health care system.

Vaccines save lives. I know. I rushed around in the early days of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to ensure no single dose was wasted. We saved countless people’s lives then, and vaccines have protected lives every day since.

As a nurse practitioner, researcher and state representative, I know how critical it is to have experienced and competent leadership to guide our nation’s health care system. President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has neither the experience nor competence to take on this immense national responsibility; confirming him will put Pennsylvanians’ health care and lives at serious risk.

Selecting RFK Jr. as our next secretary of HHS may be the worst decision since the New York Giants gave up Saquon Barkley to fly with our Philadelphia Eagles. 

RFK Jr., who is not a healthcare professional but instead a lawyer who founded and represented one of our nation’s most notorious anti-vaccine groups, has taken positions and spread misinformation far and wide despite overwhelming scientific evidence that he’s wrong. He’s being considered to run our nation’s health and health care, yet he has helped spread disease with deadly consequences based on opinions backed by rumor instead of science.

Just one example: In 2019, RFK, Jr. visited Samoa to lobby the prime minister and others in opposition to encouraging the use of the measles vaccine in children. He successfully sowed significant distrust in the vaccine, and Samoa’s vaccination rates failed to improve. Eighty-three people died of measles four months later – mostly young children. His efforts to block the administration of a lifesaving vaccination to Samoan children would be, at best, malpractice. His judgment is the opposite of what is needed to run HHS.

Americans deserve better. In the past week, we’ve already seen the U.S. leave the World Health Organization and freeze grant funding for important scientific research, and that’s all before RFK Jr. even had hearings on his nomination in the U.S. Senate.

HHS is a vast organization with immense responsibilities, such as approving new medicines and vaccines, funding essential research, overseeing emergency public health response and managing both Medicare and Medicaid. 

Some may say we should be open to an outsider who isn’t afraid of ruffling feathers and brings a fresh perspective to government. I don’t disagree – I was a nurse practitioner with no political experience when I ran for office in 2022. But I’ve successfully worked as a state representative to promote evidence-based science, like increasing access to lifesaving vaccines. 

And to lead our nation’s health care system, we need a candidate who believes in science and facts, not someone who has made a career promoting reckless and deadly anti-science conspiracy theories. Putting RFK Jr. in charge of the U.S. health care system is like putting the Kansas City Chiefs in charge of the Eagles’ play-calling during Super Bowl LIX. 

HHS requires a leader who believes in science, who believes in vaccines and who is committed to lowering costs and protecting health care coverage. My objection to RFK Jr.’s nomination is not about partisan politics – as an elected official, I understand that President Donald Trump should be able to nominate someone who shares his ideology. However, as a nurse practitioner, I know that when it comes to protecting people’s health, the first rule is “Do No Harm.” RFK Jr. has a long track record of promoting harm. If he is confirmed, his directorship will threaten the health of the American public.

I urge U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman to defend our nation against RFK Jr.’s confirmation.  Pennsylvanians’ lives depend on it.