Robert F. Kennedy Jr. since it was elected presidents Donald Trump To lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he has talked about his plans to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Kennedy has he vowed to break up on dyes in the food industry and to reduce pesticides in the farm and agricultural industry.
He has called for restrictions on ultra-processed foods as part of an initiative to combat the high rates of chronic disease in the United States, he said. more research needs to be done on vaccines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Former Republican presidential candidate gestures as he speaks in front of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 1, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
These plans may require you to overcome regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and/or possibly see new regulations implemented.
Political science experts say that could put him at odds with his own party members, as Republicans typically advocate less regulation and limited government oversight.
“I think where you would see the challenges would be in the allocation of money,” Shana Gadarian, a professor of political science at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in New York, told ABC News.
“All of a sudden, if HHS is in the business of passing more regulations on the food industry, on agriculture, we could see a Republican majority in the Senate and a Republican House less interested in allocating a budget to HHS that would be under another leadership,” he continued.
Praise from other Republicans
However Republican criticisms of previous democratic initiatives to fight disease and childhood obesity, Kennedy has received praise from some Republicans.
“RFK Jr. has championed issues like healthy food and the need for greater transparency in our public health infrastructure,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana. statement at the beginning of this month. “I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support his conservative, pro-American agenda.”
Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin named Kennedy “A brilliant and courageous truth-teller whose steadfast commitment to transparency will make America a healthier nation” and Senator Josh Hawley. Trump called the decision to nominate him to head HHS “Bad day for Big Pharma!”
However, Gadarian voiced the support of some Republicans in the Senate may lack support among Republicans.
“Maybe what the average person thinks and knows (what Kenned wants) and what the party elites might have interests,” Gadarian said.
Some of Kennedy’s proposed top-down policies could have a negative impact on farmers and others, he said: “These ideas to get rid of agricultural pesticides can be quite unpopular.”
Republican aversion to regulation
Historically, the Republican party has been ideologically associated with a smaller and more limited federal government.
In his time January 1981 inaugural addressPresident Ronald Reagan stated, “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem,” championing the belief that government should not interfere in American lives.
If Kennedy is confirmed, some regulations may be thrown out, such as the decision on the CDC vaccinations that must be covered by health insuranceAccording to Gadarian.
But his confirmation may also lead to new regulations; for example, it may be about which food coloring companies are allowed to use or the use of pesticides on farms.
Although it’s still not entirely clear how Kennedy might do it all proposed changes Directly through his leadership at HHS, as opposed to the Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Agriculture, he has called for restrictions on food additives, dyes and ultra-processed foods, which could have a direct impact through the FDA.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump greet each other at a campaign event sponsored by the conservative group Turning Point USA in Duluth, Georgia on October 23, 2024.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Gadarian said this is inconsistent with the traditional conservative approach to regulations, which is generally to loosen them.
“I think that increasing regulation of agriculture and other companies that use pesticides, or the food industry, is really contrary to the idea of limited government, of loosening regulations so that companies can do business and not be burdened by the federal government,” he said.
Robert Ravens-Seager, a professor of history and political science at the American International College in Massachusetts, believes that the idea that Republicans have “small government” or “limited government” is a myth.
He said both Republicans and Democrats want government regulation, but have different views on how it should be implemented.
“When you’re in government, your distaste for government tends to diminish a little bit,” he told ABC News. “I think you’ve seen a change in the Republican party in a very short period of time. They’ve gone from being a party of small government (and) I think the next government is going to be very. heavy-handed.”
Kennedy added that he believes it can influence messaging around food and/or agriculture, advocating for consumers to buy what is said to be safe and healthy. However, Ravens-Seager isn’t sure to what degree the impact will be.
“I definitely think it’s going to have an impact on food additives, food safety and things like that,” Ravens-Seager said. “The food side, above all, goes against the orthodoxy and can create some interesting debates, but on this issue in particular, the degree to which it will find much support within the party seems doubtful.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said last month he wanted to meet with Kennedy ahead of a confirmation hearing and “educate” him about agriculture, citing concerns about Kennedy’s expressed views.
“I’m willing to have a discussion with him and find out where he’s coming from,” Grassley told reporters. Political. “But I may have to spend a lot of time educating myself in agriculture, and I’m ready for that.”
Eitan Hersh, a professor of political science at Tufts University in Massachusetts, said it’s important to remember that many steps must be taken before new regulations can be enacted, including the Senate’s confirmation of Kennedy, the proposed and approval of new regulations, potential debate. Congress and enforcement of those regulations.
“All of this may be, but I think the signal that’s happening with putting RFK in HHS shows a sense of priorities, and I think those priorities are not necessarily in favor of business interests and protection from regulation,” he told ABC. the news
ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.
