Additional Coverage:
- RFK Jr. ‘checked out’ of health role as he fails to turn up to weekly meetings on time, insiders say (themirror.com)
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reportedly taken a detached approach to his leadership, selectively involving himself only in issues that align with his personal interests.
A detailed report by The New York Times on Sunday examined significant shifts within the Department of Health during President Trump’s second term. Kennedy’s unconventional management style has raised concerns among staff and observers about the department’s effectiveness in addressing critical health matters.
According to a dozen individuals with direct experience working alongside Kennedy and other department employees, morale has sharply declined under his leadership. Some expressed doubts about the department’s readiness to handle potential crises.
Sources familiar with Kennedy describe him as narrowly focused on his own agenda, particularly his long-standing skepticism toward vaccines. He is said to maintain limited contact with the broader department staff and seldom engages with the agency’s day-to-day operations.
Kennedy’s team reportedly receives minimal briefings on pressing issues such as the Ebola outbreak, though he holds daily conversations with acting CDC Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Appointed in February, Bhattacharya shares many of Kennedy’s views, including opposition to COVID-19 mask mandates and support for “focused protection” strategies that favor natural infection among healthy populations.
Department employees noted that Kennedy attends only about one weekly meeting per month with leaders of the department’s 13 divisions. When present, he often appears disengaged. One staff member recounted an incident in which Kennedy arrived late and apologized with the remark, “Thank you for putting up with my dysfunctional self.”
Additionally, Kennedy frequently delegates key responsibilities to Stefanie Spear, a longtime adviser who has accompanied him since his career as an environmental lawyer.
Kennedy’s seemingly lackluster commitment to his role comes amid growing speculation about his future in the Trump administration. Despite his close ties to the president, several prominent officials-including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard-have recently departed the cabinet.
Concerns about Kennedy’s stewardship have contributed to a broader erosion of trust in the Department of Health. A recent joint report from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the American Association of People with Disabilities described the department’s current state as a “crisis of public trust.” The organizations called on Congress to conduct oversight hearings and consider impeachment proceedings against officials like Kennedy, warning that recent changes have been “harmful” and “detrimental to the autistic community.”