RFK Jr. spreads harmful health conspiracies. But he’s right to challenge big corporations | Opinion
Many of us in the medical field were taken aback when President-elect Donald Trump announced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. For years, RFK Jr. has positioned himself as a controversial figure, particularly when it comes to public health issues.
He has repeatedly claimed that vaccines are linked to autism and questioned their efficacy in protecting against diseases — statements that have been consistently refuted by overwhelming scientific evidence. But his skepticism doesn’t end there: RFK Jr. has argued that Wi-Fi exposure leads to cancer and has promoted the consumption of raw milk, despite safety concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Yet, in the same breath, RFK Jr. has also been a fierce critic of powerful corporate interests — taking specific aim at Big Pharma, Big Agriculture and the processed food industry. On this front, he raises valid concerns.
The food industry, driven by profit margins, saturates the market with ultra-processed foods that are affordable, addictive and omnipresent. It’s hardly surprising that nearly 40% of American adults are now classified as obese, with diet-related diseases costing our healthcare system billions of dollars annually.
Opinion
Big Agriculture’s industrial practices exacerbate this issue. These systems not only encourage unhealthy eating habits, but consume vast amounts of fossil fuel, water and arable land at unsustainable rates. The environmental toll is significant: air and water pollution, loss of fertile topsoil, diminished biodiversity and depleted fish stocks.
In short, our approach to food production is driving us toward an ecological tipping point.
Then there’s Big Pharma, which continues to wield out-sized influence over both physicians and consumers. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Open Payments program, the average physician receives roughly $3,500 in annual compensation from pharmaceutical companies. This creates a troubling dynamic where clinical decisions may be swayed by the interests of drug manufacturers, potentially prioritizing profit over patient welfare.
With all this in mind, it’s clear that the U.S. could benefit greatly from a national campaign promoting healthy eating, regular physical activity and a shift toward a more sustainable agricultural system. The reduction of corporate influence in healthcare and nutrition should be a priority for any leader at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services.
However, if RFK Jr. is genuinely committed to challenging entrenched corporate power, he should extend his focus to another major player: Big Oil. The U.S. continues to provide substantial financial support to the fossil fuel industry, with direct subsidies totaling an estimated $20 billion per year. These subsidies persist even as renewable energy sources have become increasingly cost-competitive.
Meanwhile, the economic impacts of climate change, driven by fossil fuel consumption, have been catastrophic: From hurricanes to wildfires, extreme weather events are now costing American taxpayers an estimated $150 billion per year in damages and lost productivity.
RFK Jr.’s appointment has sparked understandable concern among many physicians and public health experts. But if he truly intends to tackle the root causes of poor health and environmental degradation, he must do more than challenge Big Pharma and Big Ag. He must address the systemic support for industries that undermine both public health and the environment — chief among them Big Oil.
Don Gaede is a mostly retired physician specializing in vascular medicine. He volunteers at the San Luis Obispo Noor Foundation Clinic.
