The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By and large, the nominees don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: CDC pick Dr. Dave Weldon represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated . Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Mike Stobbe, The Associated Press
Sonipat (Haryana) [India], November 23 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated India's first Constitution Museum at OP Jindal Global University (JGU) in Haryana's Sonipat on Saturday. They were joined by joined by Naveen Jindal, the Founding Chancellor of JGU and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and other distinguished guests for the momentous occasion. Also Read | Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024: 'Modi Magic' Stumps MVA As PM Narendra Modi Leads Mahayuti to Back-to-Back Wins. Addressing the occasion as Chief Guest, LS Speaker Om Birla said, "India's first Constitution Museum at OP Jindal Global University marks a historic milestone which will acquaint future generations with our Constitution, illuminating its history, inception, and the immense efforts behind its creation. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the celebration of Constitution Day, highlighting the visionary ideas that shaped our Constitution. He urged us to remember and honour the contributions of those who worked tirelessly to frame this foundational document. Our Constitution stands as a beacon guiding India and the world. Our Constitution enshrines the principles of equality for all. More than a legal framework, our constitution is a transformative document that has brought profound social, economic, and political change. It is not merely a set of laws but a guiding philosophy, that continues to lead us towards a more just and inclusive society. Our democracy has united diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, exemplifying the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"--the world is one family--throughout its 75-year journey. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we continue to advance this legacy." The Guest of Honour, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said, "Equality, liberty and fraternity are the cornerstones of our Constitution. We place equality before liberty as it is more important. We will only remain independent, said Dr BR Ambedkar, only when we have equality. I especially laud the effort undertaken by Chancellor Naveen Jindal efforts to ensure that citizens would be free to fly the National Flag respectfully and with dignity and honour. The Constitution Museum is a true memorial to the significant contribution of BR Ambedkar, the main framer of the Indian Constitution and I sincerely hope that it is visited by the current legislators of India to get a modern and digital insight into the making of the Constitution." Also Read | 'Loss in Jharkhand Is Deeply Painful for Me': BJP Leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Jharkhand Assembly Election Results 2024. The Constitution Academy & the Rights and Freedoms Museum, a Jindal Global University initiative, is an attempt to delve into the cornerstone of India's democracy and the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined within it. The Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University Naveen Jindal, MP Lok Sabha said, "Constitutionalism is a philosophy that restricts government power and ensures the protection of individual rights. Constitutionalism is a political theory that emphasizes the limitation of governmental power, regardless of its source of proper procedures. It asserts that there are certain actions a government just cannot undertake, even if they are supported by public opinion or proper procedures. The Constitution Museum is a reminder of the vision of our Founding Fathers. It is the longest-written constitution in the world, which came into being because of the painstaking efforts and toil of the constituent assembly. It was crafted with immense foresight to balance individual rights and the state powers; the resolve to secure all its citizens, justice, liberty, and equality and promote fraternity and to assure the dignity of the individual enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution. The Constitution Museum at OP Jindal Global University is a reminder to celebrate the constitution of the world's largest democracy, and to promote the idea of Indian constitutionalism as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26 this year." Professor C Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University thanked the distinguished guests on this momentous occasion and said, "As part of the celebrations, we are also hosting the National Convention on the Constitution of India from 23rd to 25th November. This convention will have distinguished speakers representing the law and public life, including three former Chief Justices, seven judges of the Supreme Court of India, three former judges of the Supreme Court, 20 plus senior advocates of the Supreme Court of India, eight distinguished parliamentarians and different political parties, besides the attorney general for India, the solicitor of India, and several other scholars from India and abroad. It is indeed my distinct honour to extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests and we are deeply grateful to them for taking the time to inaugurate India's first Constitution Museum. I would also like to extend my gratitude to our benefactor and Founding Chancellor Naveen Jindal MP, Lok Sabha who brought to fruition the vision of a global university in India and has achieved historic recognition through his work in bringing the pride of flying the Indian National Flag for every citizen." The museum is designed to provide a deep and engaging exploration of the Constitution's essential elements and key provisions that every citizen should know. The aim is to make the Constitution both accessible and relevant, demonstrating how its values and ideals have shaped the nation. The visitors can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of pre-independence India, through 360-degree visual spectacle. Through cutting-edge technology and multimedia storytelling, our exhibit unfolds the chronological tapestry of events leading to the drafting of the Indian Constitution. The collaboration between the O.P. Jindal Global University and IIT Madras will bring to life an unprecedented experience through a tour guide robot called S.A.M.V.I.D. to commemorate the most significant document that defines India as a Republic. On display in the museum's centre is one of the 1000 photolithographic reproductions of the Constitution of India. The original, an elaborately crafted edition that took nearly five years to complete, bears the signatures of the nation's founders--the framers of the Constitution. Prem Behari Narain Raizada rendered the calligraphy, while Nandalal Bose and other artists illustrated the text. The manuscript was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. The Museum especially highlights the contribution of women members of the Constituent Assembly and there are animations about the life of each female member of the Constituent Assembly focusing on their contribution to the Constitution as well as the making of Independent India. To commemorate the memory of nearly 300 members of the Constituent Assembly, sculptured busts of each member have been placed in niches to recognise their contribution. The gallery also explores the global inspirations and historical frameworks that influenced the creation of India's Constitution, highlighting how these ideas were reimagined and adapted to suit the unique needs and aspirations of India's diverse populace. The mezzanine also holds a hologram exhibit of Dr BR Ambedkar. This installation brings his words and vision to life, allowing visitors to experience his legacy first-hand. The answers have been crafted based on his speeches and writings. The art featured in the museum is anticipated to be a major attraction. Rajesh P Subramanian's sculpture, 'We, The People of India', embodies "unity in diversity," a core constitutional principle. In 'Echoes of Liberty', Rahul Gautam creates a mural that fuses elements from constitutional manuscripts with modern design. Harsha Durugadda's 'Triad of Unity' links themes of unity, justice, and sovereignty. Nishant S. Kumbhatil's 'Insaaf Ki Devi' portrays lady justice holding a balance, a powerful emblem of impartiality in Indian law. Pradeep B. Jogdand's 'Equality Before Law' symbolises equality and justice. Deval Verma's large-scale 'Map challenges viewers to reconsider notions of value and beauty. KR Nariman's 'Freedom' celebrates "We, the People" who uphold constitutional values in their daily lives as citizens. Finally, Rahul Gautam's sculpture 'Founding Mothers' artistically represents an imagined photograph featuring the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly, honouring their contributions to shaping India's constitutional framework. Anjchita B Nair, CEO, Culture and Head, Centre for Museums has curated the museum emphasising how the Constitution Museum steers away from the typical unidirectional tone taken by conventional museums and instead uses a multitude of formats for innovative storytelling. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature,” he said. “We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what’s going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.”