A4TE Condemns Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmation as HHS Secretary, Citing Danger to Public Health and Trans Rights

Washington, D.C. Today, the Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In response, Sinead Murano-Kinney, Health Policy Analyst at Advocates for Trans Equality, issued the following statement:

“By measures of expertise and character, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unfit and unqualified for this position. We look to the Secretary of HHS to protect the health and well-being of all. RFK Jr. has consistently proven he is incapable of grasping, let alone upholding, the principles of equity and scientific integrity. His disregard for scientific evidence and embrace of misinformation endanger vulnerable populations, including trans people, intersex people, people living with HIV, and low-income families relying on Medicaid.

“His rejection of scientific consensus threatens access to critical healthcare, from vaccines to transgender healthcare. Despite claims he would ‘follow the science,’ RFK Jr. has previously promoted conspiracy theories such as 5G misinformation, making xenophobic claims that COVID-19 was engineered to target certain populations, he’s compared vaccination mandates to the Third Reich and the Holocaust, and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of public health programs. 

“His appointment is particularly alarming for trans and intersex Americans, as he is now responsible for enforcing some of President Trump’s most harmful executive orders targeting our communities. RFK Jr. has falsely described essential transition-related care as ‘castration drugs,’ ignoring decades of research confirming the safety and necessity of transition-related treatment in reducing suicidality and improving mental health. He has also made unsubstantiated claims that the existence of trans people is the result of chemical exposure from our drinking water, based entirely off a single study conducted on frogs. 

“RFK Jr. has demonstrated that he will not be guided by scientific integrity or values of equity. Instead, he will be nothing more than a conspiratorial figurehead, a yes-man, enabling the worst impulses of a President with a clear agenda to remove trans people
from participating in public life. His leadership signals a dangerous era where disinformation dictates policy, harming those most in need of care.

“We applaud the Senators who rejected this appointment and reaffirmed their commitment to equitable healthcare. We look forward to continuing our work with them to protect the health and dignity of trans people nationwide.”


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About A4TE

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in the United States. Introduced in July 2024 after the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality merged, A4TE is the largest trans-led advocacy organization in the U.S. and brings together experts, advocates, and communities to shift government and society toward an equitable future where trans people live joyful lives without barriers.