**Trump Taps Pandemic Policy Critics for Key Health Agencies**

In a bold move, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed a slew of medical contrarians and health care critics to positions aimed at overhauling federal oversight of medicines, health programs, and nutrition. Notably, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, known for his opposition to pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, has been nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), marking a significant shift in direction for the nation's top medical research agency.

Bhattacharya joins a cadre of appointees expected to drive forward Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s comprehensive "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. This initiative centers on expelling numerous additives from U.S. foods, eliminating conflicts of interest within agencies, and promoting healthier choices in school lunches and other nutrition programs. Trump has also nominated Kennedy to helm the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees NIH and other key federal health entities.

These new health priorities starkly contrast Trump's first term, which predominantly focused on deregulating food, drug, and agriculture sectors. "A very different tune is emerging as we head into this new Trump administration," remarked Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University's school of public health. "It's crucial to proceed with caution, keeping in mind the public health setbacks witnessed previously."

Although Trump's nominees lack experience managing large bureaucratic agencies, they are no strangers to public discourse on health. Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, is widely recognized from his 13-year stint hosting a talk show and his influence in wellness and lifestyle circles. Dr. Marty Makary, slated for the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, chosen for surgeon general, have both been frequent contributors on Fox News.

Several nominees also have strong ties to Florida. For instance, Dave Weldon, appointed to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, served as a state representative in Congress for 14 years. Tasked with reorganizing agencies with a combined $1.7 trillion budget and employing around 80,000 personnel, their roles are crucial in executing Kennedy's ambitious plans.

The National Institutes of Health, with its $48 billion budget, is instrumental in funding and conducting medical research. Bhattacharya, a Stanford University health economist and physician, co-authored the controversial Great Barrington Declaration in 2020, which argued that lockdowns were causing irreparable harm. This view was embraced by some officials during Trump's first term, despite being widely criticized by disease experts.

Kennedy has proposed pausing NIH's drug development and infectious disease research to concentrate on chronic diseases. He has also expressed a desire to exclude researchers with potential conflicts of interest from receiving NIH funding. In 2017, Kennedy criticized the agency for not adequately investigating vaccines' role in autism—a stance that has been largely debunked by the scientific community.