RFK Jr. Says ‘Nothing Is Off Limits’ In His Plan For Health & Human Services Dept., Reveals Commission To Study Vaccines

On Tuesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed staffers at the Department of Health and Human Services when he laid out his vision for the agency. Kennedy detailed plans for a new commission, created by President Donald Trump, that will investigate the childhood vaccine schedule as a potential cause of the country’s chronic disease epidemic.

Last week, Trump launched a new “Make America Healthy Again” commission in an executive order with Kennedy at the top. The commission will develop a strategy for children’s health within the next six months. Kennedy said the commission will study issues that were “formerly taboo or insufficiently scrutinized.”

Kennedy noted that he wouldn’t stop asking “difficult questions” that have led to “a lot of unpopular conclusions” in a video of the closed-door meeting viewed by the Hill.

“Some of the possible factors we will investigate were formally taboo or insufficiently scrutinized. Childhood vaccine schedule, electromagnetic radiation, glyphosate, other pesticides, ultra-processed foods, artificial food allergies, SSRI and other psychiatric drugs, PFAS, PFOA, microplastics, nothing is going to be off limits,” Kennedy told staff.

The 71-year-old urged his new staff to drop any preconceived notions about him stemming from his past statements as a vaccine skeptic. He warned agency staff to consider retirement if they could not “embrace” the Trump administration’s changes. Kennedy didn’t address the recent departures of 10 percent of the Center for Disease Control, terminated as part of a Department of Government Efficiency-led effort to reduce spending by shrinking the federal workforce.

“I’m going to keep asking questions but hold my preconceived answers lightly. I’m willing to be wrong,” Kennedy said. “I promise to listen to all the stakeholders … including the ones, especially the ones with whom I’ve disagreed in the past. I promise to keep an open mind.” 

He vowed to work with “radical transparency” through a “free and unimpeded flow of information.”

“We will remove conflicts of interest from the committees and research partners whenever possible or balance them with other stakeholders,” Kennedy said. “We will shut the revolving door.”