The days of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. going wild on health policy may be coming to an end. After a tumultuous first year as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy's confrontational approach appears to be backfiring, eroding public trust in government agencies rather than restoring it as he had promised.
Trench Warfare with the Public Health Establishment
When Kennedy was sworn in as HHS Secretary in 2025, he vowed to shake up the status quo and take on the "public health establishment." True to his word, he launched a fierce battle with career officials and experts, attacking their credibility and priorities.
However, this pugilistic approach has done more to undermine faith in institutions than to reform them. According to a recent report, trust in U.S. health agencies has continued to erode under Kennedy's leadership, with doctors warning that his changes are sowing confusion and mistrust.
Pushback from Lawmakers and Industry
Kennedy's confrontational style has also sparked pushback from unexpected quarters. Republican lawmakers who initially supported his nomination have grown increasingly wary of his attacks on the agricultural industry and other powerful interests.
With mounting political and public pressure, Kennedy's days of unilaterally rewriting health policy may be numbered. The bigger picture here is that his divisive approach has ultimately undermined his own agenda, leaving him increasingly isolated and his reforms in jeopardy.