“I’ve had conversations, and I’ve raised my concerns and I will continue to raise my concerns,” Gottlieb said on CNBC in response to a question about whether he’s spoken with individual senators about the prospect of confirming RFK Jr.
Gottlieb warned that RFK Jr. could take specific actions harmful to public health, including by disbanding a vaccine advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and then re-creating it stacked with like-minded people and by frustrating funding for the Vaccines for Children program, which provides free vaccines when their health insurance won’t pay for them. Gottlieb called the team RFK Jr. is building “very experienced,” and pointed to individuals with ties to the anti-vaccine group RFK Jr. founded, the Children’s Health Defense.
“These guys are capable, I think they are deadly serious and have been very clear about their intentions, and I think sometimes you have to take people at their word,” Gottlieb said.
Beyond his criticism of RFK Jr., Gottlieb also called David Weldon, Trump’s pick to lead the CDC, a “very committed anti-vaxxer.” For the first time, following a change by Congress, that post is subject to confirmation by the Senate.