Elon Musk's DOGE and Kennedy's Anti-Vaccine Agenda

In a recent development, a powerful figure in the White House has given billionaire Elon Musk the green light to make significant changes to federal health agencies. This move has sparked controversy and concern among some cabinet members. Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) has been given control over the Health and Human Services (HHS). This has led to a massive shake-up in the department, with all 80, 000 employees receiving an email asking them to resign for a mere $25, 000. The deadline? Just one week to decide. The HHS database, which contains sensitive financial data about nearly all American workers, has also been handed over to Musk. Career officials raised objections, but their concerns were dismissed. This database was originally created to streamline child support systems. Now, it's in the hands of a billionaire known for his controversial views and actions. Meanwhile, the health agency is undergoing a drastic change in policy. The FDA's annual meeting to set the year's flu vaccine schedule has been canceled. A program to develop a pill form of the COVID-19 vaccine has been terminated. And the National Institutes of Health have been ordered to cut funding for research into vaccine acceptance. This comes at a time when Texas and New Mexico are experiencing a measles outbreak, largely due to parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Robert Kennedy, the head of HHS, has been a vocal advocate for this shift. He has made controversial statements about vaccines, including claiming that having measles is a "fun experience" for children. He has also suggested that the real issue is the diet and exercise habits of rural people. This, despite the fact that measles can cause permanent neurological damage or even death. Kennedy's stance on vaccines is not new. He has consistently questioned their safety and effectiveness. He has even endorsed a blog post written by anti-vaccine activists. This, despite the fact that there are hundreds of studies showing no link between autism and vaccines. Kennedy's insistence on holding out for "the science" has raised eyebrows and concerns. The goal of Musk's tactics is not just to cut waste and fraud. It's to create a system collapse by running out people who are good at their jobs. For cabinet members like Duffy and Rubio, this is a nightmare scenario. But for Kennedy, it's a dream come true. He sees it as a way to dismantle the medical establishment and promote his anti-vaccine agenda. The CDC has already been heavily targeted by Musk. Nearly 750 employees were fired without regard for their skills or experience. The Trump administration had to beg 180 of them to come back. But the damage has been done. Medical research and prevention work, both here and abroad, have been severely impacted. The Veterans Affairs agency is another casualty of Musk's slash-and-burn tactics. The agency runs and funds much of the nation's cutting-edge medical research. Veterans make a great population for such research due to their unique health needs. But with Musk's cuts, those veterans are being cut off from what is often their very last option for care. The decimation of USAID has also had global implications. Programs that prevent and snuff out outbreaks around the world have been hobbled. This leaves people everywhere more vulnerable to threatening viruses and bacteria. And as these diseases inevitably find their way back to the U. S. , they will meet increasing numbers of Americans who are refusing to take basic precautions like vaccination or even hand-washing. Kennedy's vision of a measles "vacation" for millions of American children is getting closer. But it's going to involve mostly suffering and a lot of dying, and not so much fun time watching TV in bed. His war on the medical establishment and health research is rooted in a view that cutting people off from doctors and hospitals will somehow breed "sturdier" Americans who are "healthy again. " This is a dangerous and misguided view.