Donald Trump, the president-elect, has announced his pick to lead one of the country’s most important health organizations, the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His choice? Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a health expert from Stanford University, known for his strong opposition to pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Trump says Bhattacharya, along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), will lead the charge in tackling America’s biggest health challenges.
In a statement, Trump shared his vision, calling the duo a team that will “restore the NIH to the Gold Standard of Medical Research.” He praised them for their dedication to finding solutions for chronic illnesses and diseases that have plagued the nation for years.
Dr. Bhattacharya made waves during the pandemic when he co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration. This document, released in October 2020, argued against lockdowns, claiming they caused more harm than good. Instead, it suggested focusing on protecting those most at risk while allowing low-risk individuals to live normally and build immunity. At the time, the approach drew sharp criticism from many health experts and was called “dangerous” by then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. Still, it gained support from some members of Trump’s first administration.
In the years since, Bhattacharya hasn’t backed down. He’s described lockdowns as “the biggest public health mistake” and criticized vaccine mandates, saying they eroded trust in the health system. He also made headlines as a plaintiff in a Supreme Court case that accused federal officials of stifling conservative voices on social media. While the court ruled in favor of the Biden administration, Bhattacharya’s fight against censorship drew attention, especially after Elon Musk invited him to Twitter (now X) headquarters to discuss his claims.
Bhattacharya’s selection still has one hurdle to clear—Senate approval. But if confirmed, he will oversee a massive $48 billion budget that funds groundbreaking medical research, from cancer treatments to vaccines.
Trump didn’t stop with just one big announcement. He also named Jim O’Neill as his pick for deputy secretary of HHS. O’Neill, who has prior experience working in government health agencies, is tasked with improving how HHS operates. Trump believes his team, including other nominees like Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Marty Makary, will shake things up in Washington and lead efforts to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The NIH, which Bhattacharya is set to lead, plays a huge role in health research. It’s the agency behind major medical breakthroughs like the cervical cancer vaccine, life-saving cancer drugs, and the speedy creation of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. With Bhattacharya at the helm, the NIH could be heading in a bold, new direction under Trump’s administration. Whether this approach will unite or divide opinions remains to be seen.