Dr. Deborah Birx backs RFK Jr for HHS sec, hopes for 'transparency'

Dr. Deborah Birx, who served as President Donald Trump’s Covid response coordinator, said Sunday that she is optimistic about the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and hopes he will bring “transparency” to the healthcare debate in America.

“When he talks about transparency, I’m actually excited that in a Senate hearing he would bring forward his data and the questions that come from the senators would bring forth their data.” Birx told Margaret Brennan, host of CBS News’ Face the Nation.

Birx suggested Kennedy would ignite a public debate at his Senate confirmation hearing. “What I know for sure, is he’s a very smart man who can bring his data and his evidence base forward, and we can have a discussion that many Americans believe already is a problem ... I know the members have incredible staffers who will bring great questions from their constituents and that hearing would be a way for Americans to really see the data.”

Birx said Kennedy’s championing of healthier food is appealing to Americans. “This is the reality of America and so what I’m hoping is he brings his transparency for all Americans and we really start to tackle these issues one-by-one-by-one,” she said. “I think everybody across America wants to have healthy kids that they know will grow up and not end up with the complications of diabetes or heart disease.”

Birx encouraged Kennedy to lead HSS with good staff surrounding him and an experienced chief of staff, Politico noted. “HHS is probably one of our most complicated departments,” she said.