RFK Jr. disputes report on his engagement as HHS Secretary

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly refuted a New York Times report that suggested he has been disengaged from his official duties. The report, authored by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, alleged that some individuals within the department feel Kennedy appears "checked out" and has surrounded himself with like-minded political appointees.

In a response posted on X, Kennedy asserted that his day-to-day actions are transparent and accessible via his public calendar. He pointed to an "unprecedented list of accomplishments" as evidence of his success as HHS secretary. Kennedy criticized the New York Times for focusing on "trivia" and relying on invention due to limited access to decision-makers.

Kennedy further claimed that when he assumed the role, the department was understaffed, with approximately 90% of employees not reporting for work. He contrasted this with his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, stating that Becerra "almost never showed up for work" during his four-year term. Kennedy also took issue with Stolberg's use of anonymous employee quotes, noting that some of these individuals were either fired by him or resigned to avoid termination, thus questioning their credibility.

The HHS Secretary's response also touched upon the Ebola outbreak, criticizing the Biden administration's handling of COVID-19. The New York Times article had noted criticism regarding Kennedy's decision to place Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a health economist, in charge of mitigating the Ebola outbreak despite his lack of direct public health experience. Bhattacharya is reportedly heading the CDC while also serving as director of the NIH.

Additionally, the report highlighted concerns from public health officials about facilities in Kenya operated by John Knox, a former firefighter and vaccine skeptic. Stolberg's article also mentioned Kennedy's limited visits to the CDC headquarters, including one visit after a shooting incident, which was followed by a fishing trip that drew criticism. Kennedy defended these visits, stating his work with Indian Health Services (IHS) has been a priority, transforming it from a "backwater" to a top departmental focus and bringing Native Americans into high-level positions for the first time.