The recent appointments by President-elect Trump for key health positions have sparked varied opinions, with some experts considering them reasonable choices. Trump has been working to solidify his health team, selecting Marty Makary, a surgeon from Johns Hopkins, to head the FDA, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a well-known television figure, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Stanford-trained physician and economist Jay Bhattacharya is said to be the leading candidate for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). On social media, Jha expressed mixed views on the appointments. He stated, “While RFK Jr is an absolutely terrible choice for HHS Secretary, I think Marty Makary at FDA, Dr. Oz at CMS and Jay Bhattacharya at NIH are all pretty reasonable.
Critics voice skepticism over the nomination of RFK Jr. while others support the selections
They are smart and experienced, even though I have plenty of policy disagreements with them. We will need them to do well.” The selection of nominees has faced criticism, particularly regarding Kennedy, who has gained notoriety for his anti-vaccine stance and his controversial promise to eliminate corruption by purging entire departments within the FDA.
Jha also offered a brief opinion on the nomination of former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While acknowledging the importance of the role, Jha remarked, “I know almost nothing about Dr. Weldon,” adding that his performance in hearings will be key to assessing his qualifications. “He will be key to protecting the health of the American people,” Jha noted.
