RFK Jr.: Public Health Agencies in Decline

During a recent exchange, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked what he considered the last great success of America’s public health agencies. His answer was stark:

“I don’t think there have been successes. I think we’ve seen a 30 or 40 year decline in the agency because it’s been infiltrated by the pharmaceutical companies.”

Kennedy’s blunt assessment has reignited debate about the credibility of U.S. institutions like the FDA, CDC, and NIH.

A Claim of Long-Term Decline

Kennedy’s comments reflect not a single criticism but a generational indictment. In his view, agencies once seen as protectors of public health have gradually lost independence, allowing pharmaceutical interests to shape policy and regulation.

Supporters argue this perspective resonates with many Americans who have grown skeptical of shifting guidance and industry ties, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Industry Influence in Focus

Kennedy often points to “regulatory capture,” where industries influence the very agencies meant to oversee them. Examples include:

• Revolving door careers, with former officials moving into pharmaceutical company roles.

• Industry-dependent funding, such as user fees supporting FDA operations.

• Reliance on company data, with regulators reviewing studies often conducted by the manufacturers themselves.

According to Kennedy, these dynamics explain why agencies sometimes appear to protect corporate interests more than public safety.

Supporters vs. Defenders

Those sympathetic to Kennedy’s view see a long-term erosion of trust and accountability, arguing that public health has become too entangled with private profit.

Defenders of the agencies counter that they continue to achieve significant victories — from advancing vaccine technology to strengthening disease surveillance — and warn that sweeping criticisms could further undermine confidence in essential programs.

Why It Matters

Regardless of one’s stance, Kennedy’s remarks highlight a pressing issue: the fragile state of public trust in health institutions. His argument that public health agencies have been compromised by industry influence taps into concerns shared across the political spectrum.

The central question remains: can these agencies regain independence and transparency, or has public confidence been permanently eroded?

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Sources and further reading.

• FDA – About the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  https://www.fda.gov/about-fda

• CDC – Mission, Role and Pledge
  https://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm

• National Institutes of Health – About NIH
  https://www.nih.gov/about-nih

• BMJ – “Institutional Corruption of Pharmaceuticals and the Myth of Safe and Effective Drugs”
  https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1115