Trump Picks Lockdown Critic to Lead NIH

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor who criticized pandemic lockdowns, to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya, 56, is known for his support of herd immunity and his opposition to vaccine mandates. He co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration in 2020, which argued that lockdowns were harming public health. Bhattacharya is expected to work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Trump's pick for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Together, they aim to return NIH to a "Gold Standard" of medical research and tackle America's chronic illness crisis. Bhattacharya's stance on lockdowns and vaccines has been controversial among health experts. Some argue that his views are unconventional and could change the direction of NIH research.Trump also announced the appointment of Jim O'Neill as deputy secretary of HHS. O'Neill is the only one of Trump's health picks with previous experience within the government, unlike Kennedy and other nominees who are outside the political establishment. Bhattacharya has faced restrictions on social media due to his views and was involved in a Supreme Court case about conservative voices on social media platforms. Despite these controversies, his nomination could significantly reshape the future of medical research in the U. S. The NIH, with a budget of $48 billion, funds a wide range of medical research, including vaccine development and cancer treatments. Its advances include mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and medications for opioid addiction. Bhattacharya's leadership at NIH could influence how these and other health challenges are addressed.