Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now leading the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to reduce corporate influence and toxic chemical exposure, but President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency appointments include industry-linked officials known for rolling back environmental regulations.
Ariel Wittenberg and Ellie Borst report for E&E News.
In short:
- Kennedy chairs the new "Make America Healthy Again Commission," which includes EPA and aims to investigate links between corporate influence, chemicals, and chronic diseases in children.
- Yet key EPA appointees, including Nancy Beck and Lynn Ann Dekleva, previously worked to weaken chemical regulations and have ties to industries producing toxic substances like PFAS.
- Unlike Trump's first term, returning officials face fewer ethics restrictions, allowing them to oversee policies affecting their former industry clients.
Key quote:
“How do they deal with the fact that EPA is now part of this commission, and that Trump is saying we need to make our food the healthiest food in the world? It’s very unclear.”
— Brett Hartl, Center for Biological Diversity government affairs director
Why this matters:
Historically, the EPA’s stance on chemical regulation has shifted depending on political leadership. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of toxic exposures, pushing for stricter oversight of pollutants. In contrast, Trump-era appointees favored deregulation, often arguing that cutting red tape would boost economic growth and innovation. Their return to positions of power raises concerns about whether industry interests will again take precedence over public health protections.
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