Mehmet Oz, the prominent physician chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee the country’s Medicare and Medicaid programs, has agreed to stop promoting health and wellness products if he is confirmed by the Senate, according to a Trump transition spokesman.
Also, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who recently raised eyebrows when he appeared on his wife’s social media account apparently showering in the background while promoting her beauty line — has also agreed to disclose his finances and face a federal ethics review if confirmed. Health Secretary spokeswoman Katie Miller said.
“Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Oz intend to divest where appropriate and cooperate fully with the Office of Government Ethics,” Miller told ABC News.
Whether Trump’s nominees planned to follow the traditional ethics that have governed Washington policymakers for decades was an open question.
Trump has tapped several billionaires to lead his cabinet, and Kennedy and Oz promoted welfare companies in recent online posts even after being named part of the incoming administration.
Experts say it’s still possible for any candidate to try to test the limits of ethics rules.
Pennsylvania Senatorial candidate Mehmet Oz gestures during a campaign rally in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 2022.
Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images, FILES
While many requirements are spelled out in the law, Trump’s Department of Justice would be responsible for enforcing those rules. Trump would also ultimately be in charge of the federal ethics office after inauguration and would be responsible for making or authorizing any discipline or corrective action among his cabinet members.
Still, the pledge to transition is an important first step toward following ethics rules, said Delaney Marsco, director of ethics at the nonprofit Legal Campaign Center.
“One of the most fundamental things is not to commit a criminal conflict of interest violation” when taking a government job, Marsco said.
“The price of having all that power is that you have to use it to serve the public. And part of that deal is that you can’t have financial conflicts of interest that would cloud your judgment,” he added.
Ethics laws require that officials refrain from making decisions related to or disposing of investments that create a conflict of interest.
Separate federal regulations establish standards of conduct that generally prohibit government officials from promoting products online that could be considered federally protected.
Five days after Oz was named the incoming head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (the federal agency that oversees federal health insurance for 160 million Americans and regulates private insurers), he took to social media to promote iHerb, an online store that sells vitamins. and accessories.
“Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to practice gratitude, it also happens to be a proven way to reduce stress. You can also reduce stress with adaptogens like ashwagandha from a trusted source like IHerb. Thank you and congratulations!” Oz wrote in X, posted on his personal Instagram account with a similar video message.
Last month, Kennedy posted a similar message promoting an online fitness game called BoxBollen, shortly after Trump named him secretary of health and human services.
“The perfect stocking stuffer!” Kennedy said in a video playing the game and wearing the game headband.
Kennedy quickly deleted his post.
Miller said Kennedy has already canceled his endorsement deal, and Oz plans to end his relationship with iHerb to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee at the Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024 in Glendale, Ariz.
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
Oz also does not have an ongoing contractual agreement with the weight loss drug, which he has promoted on his TV show in the past.
Separately, regular posts from Oz promoting iHerb prompted calls this week for a Federal Trade Commission investigation by the liberal consumer watchdog group Public Citizen. FTC rules require online influencers to disclose in their posts whether they are being paid to promote products.
The FTC declined to comment on whether it would consider the request. There is no record of past actions by the FTC against Oz.
It’s unclear how federal ethics rules might apply to the business that Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, sells home and body products.
Marsco of the Campaign Legal Center said spouses typically don’t have to leave their jobs or businesses because their partner was hired by the U.S. government. However, government officials should refrain from making decisions that may affect their spouse’s employment and should nevertheless divest financial holdings that conflict with their work.
He said those details should be worked out with the ethics office and enforced by the president. Under the law, the couple can transfer their financial interests in the company to Hines’ adult daughter, as long as she remains in office.
Marsco said these requirements will not be implemented until after Trump takes office and is officially appointed.
“Assuming they do what they said, which is they’re going to fully cooperate and divest and comply with all the conflict of interest laws and rules, then that’s frankly what’s expected of people in their position,” he said. he said
