Reproductive Equity Now Statement on Trump’s Expected Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services
BOSTON (November 15, 2024) – Following the news that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, released the following statement:
“It is almost hard to believe, but President-elect Trump continues to outdo himself in selecting the most unqualified, unserious, and dangerous cabinet members in recent history. In the midst of a devastating and deadly public health crisis with a near-total loss of abortion access affecting one in three American women, Trump has placed an anti-science conspiracy theorist in charge of safeguarding the nation’s health care. Kennedy has stood shoulder to shoulder with extreme anti-abortion advocates, endorsed several national restrictions on abortion during his presidential campaign, and publicly opposed gender affirming care. With access to emergency abortion care, medication abortion care, and birth control under attack, Kennedy is, quite simply, not fit to lead a department that directs the health of the nation, and we urge the Senate to reject his nomination when the time comes.”
The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for many services related to abortion access, including:
The enforcement of and rule-making related to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires Medicare-funded hospitals to provide stabilizing, life-saving emergency medical care to pregnant patients
The enforcement of and rule-making related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which safeguards patients’ medical records and ensures patients enjoy robust privacy protections regarding their medical histories
Medicare and Medicaid Funding, Title X funding, and the Affordable Care Act, which enable patients across the nation to access low-cost contraception, STI testing and treatment
Overseeing the FDA, which is currently facing suit from anti-abortion extremists regarding the regulation of mifepristone, one of two drugs used in the most common medication abortion protocol
During his run for president and subsequent campaign in support of Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
Publicly supported a 15-week abortion ban, which he subsequently walked back due to national backlash
Referred to abortion as a “tragedy” on his campaign website
Ran alongside a running mate who referred to IVF as “one of the biggest lies being told about women’s health”
Publicly opposed gender-affirming care and made bombastic claims that chemicals in water supplies were affecting the sexuality and gender of children
Appeared in political ads by CatholicVote, an extreme anti-abortion and anti-IVF political group
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