Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued Saturday that the incoming Trump administration should “act quickly” to implement major reforms to the National Institutes of Health, including replacing as many as 600 employees at the federal agency. .
“We need to move quickly, and we hope to have that staffing in place on January 20th, so that on January 21st, 600 people will be in the NIH office and 600 people will be leaving.” President Kennedy said in a speech. Appearance in Genius Network Annual Event Located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Democrat-turned-Trump supporter has long argued that federal health agencies are “trapped” by the pharmaceutical industry they are supposed to regulate, likening it to “corruption” that is negatively impacting the health and safety of Americans. . .
Kennedy, 70, said at a Genius Network event that he is working to raise $10 million by President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration to fill a key role at the Department of Health and Human Services, according to . ABC News.
“We need to move very quickly and we need to have really good staff right now. We have the people. [but] We need to pay them and give them housing in Florida so they can be right there when we go to transition meetings on a daily basis,” he said. .
Kennedy also gave insight into how President Trump, 78, is considering talent for the next administration.
“He goes into a meeting, and he does it very quickly. You know, there are eight huge screens, and each person’s screen shows their picture, and their biography is on the side. “You press a button and you see three different clips of that person…and he goes through them very quickly and says, 'I want that person,'” the former environmental lawyer said.
“He listens to people's opinions, but he makes decisions and gets very solid ideas. And he makes decisions very quickly. And when he arrives, meetings become very quick.” explained Kennedy.
The former presidential candidate said he, his daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk are among those who will be present when Trump makes decisions. said.
“These are all Alpha people,” Kennedy said. “They have very strong ideas about what should happen, but [Trump] Make decisions. ”
Kennedy is expected to play some major role related to health policy in President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
However, Trump transition co-chairman Howard Lutnick ruled out the possibility of RFK Jr. becoming HHS secretary before the election.
“That's not what he wants to do,” Lutnick said last month. “He just wants data, he just wants to prove things.” [about vaccines] Wrong. And he said, “If I can't prove them wrong, so be it.” But if we can, we can save the lives of millions of Americans and make their lives better. ”
The newspaper has contacted Kennedy's team for comment.
