If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed to head President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, it would be his biggest job yet.
And some of his former campaign staffers question whether he is up to the challenge.
Mr. Kennedy comes from one of the most high-profile families in Democratic politics and has held leadership roles as a lawyer and in nonprofit organizations, though he has often been the public face of these efforts rather than an executive. Kennedy’s presidential campaign similarly operated without close involvement in day-to-day operations, according to interviews with six former campaign staffers.
“He’s a great communicator and an inspirational leader. But he’s not a manager,” said the Make America Healthy Again political action committee spokesman and former Kennedy national field director. said one Jeff Hutt.
Kennedy’s last professional career, the campaign, was halted before anyone could vote for him, leaving him $4.5 million in debt.
“If he was running a campaign that way, I have no idea how he was going to run an entire department,” one former campaign aide said on the inside story. He spoke on condition of anonymity. “Filing lawsuits and suing people is very different from running a business. I think he’s a great lawyer. He does his due diligence, understands the law, and really wants to help everyone. I think you are thinking that.”
Kennedy has touted his experience as an environmental advocate and litigator as making him well suited for the role, but he has never led a team this large. The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 13 agencies with a budget of well over $1 trillion and more than 80,000 employees.
And President Trump, who reportedly considered giving Kennedy the role during his first administration, also said HHS would “help ensure everyone is protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.” He will play a huge role in the future,” he said, announcing his huge mission. , and food additives that have contributed to this nation’s overwhelming health crisis,” Kennedy said in a statement announcing his selection.
These efforts involve battling large bureaucracies, but Kennedy’s campaign did the opposite. Ultimately, a small circle of friends and family formed the core of his campaign team.
“This campaign involved a small group of people who were real experts and many people that Bobby met on his journey to health freedom,” said another former staffer.
This caused friction within the team and delayed the camp’s response to negative media coverage. Election activities such as fundraising were also curtailed.
“I think technically he could have raised another $50 million to $75 million from what he raised,” said campaign finance director Dave Murphy. “We were supposed to see exponential growth, but that didn’t happen. And every campaign and every leader succeeds or fails based on the leadership around them, the people who are close to them. I think some people didn’t understand what the vision was for the presidential campaign. [and that it] You have to actually bring in money to make it believable. ”
The campaign ultimately raised about $62 million, of which more than $15 million came from Nicole Shanahan, President Kennedy’s running mate, who is independently wealthy.
Former staffers say Mr. Kennedy will be an excellent spokesperson and the face of the president. maha missionhas pledged to tackle chronic disease through “prioritizing regenerative agriculture, protecting natural habitats, and eliminating toxins from food, water, and air.”
As a public figure, his focus has been on his role in winning a lawsuit against Monsanto, the chemical company that owns the weedkiller Roundup, and his work with the non-profit Children’s Health Defense, which he currently works for. It is not similar to the role he played as chairman of the board. On vacation.
“He was really helpful because he was basically our press secretary and press secretary. And when we got the verdict, he helped us organize.” Brent Wisner, a former Monsanto lawyer, spoke out in an interview this summer about Kennedy’s role in the Monsanto case.
Wisner said Kennedy was also instrumental in interacting with the press throughout the trial, particularly during the pre-trial discovery and investigation stages, finding instances where regulators were honoring industry at the expense of health outcomes. He added that it was helpful when he did so. .
Kennedy’s subsequent lawsuits and books focused on vaccine safety led to him being ostracized by parts of the environmental movement and, ultimately, by the Democratic Party when he ran for president. But former Kennedy staffers say he has the skills to rebuild bridges and build the relationships needed to get things done in Washington.
“He’s a very genuine person. He listens and likes to find the best answers available,” said a former senior staffer. “And as he has said publicly, if you can show him something is wrong, he will change his mind.”
The senior official also said he believed President Kennedy would not immediately “purge” his staff, as some in the Trump administration have promised, and that his former boss “has a cooler.” ” he also said. [tempered] approach. “
But some former staffers said goodwill and an aptitude for building relationships were not enough to cover leadership skills.
“He’s going to need a good deputy,” said Hutt, who worked for a PAC that supported Mr. Kennedy. “I don’t know who he has in mind, but I think he I hope he will be outside of the campaign.” [staffers] for this position. ”
