Selina Simmons-Duffin
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-19-2025 8PM EST
He says after cuts at the National Institutes of Health, he can't continue his research even though he was a postgraduate volunteer. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-19-2025 8PM EST
People braved snow and freezing temperatures to protest the firing of government researchers and cuts to academic research currently paused by the courts. Signs read, no one voted for polio and I'd rather be in my lab working on cures for cancer. One of the speakers was Connor Phillips, who told the crowd he has cerebral palsy.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-10-2025 3PM EDT
On Friday, federal health agency workers received an unsigned email with a buyout offer. The email was obtained by NPR. The subject line read, please read immediately. It set a deadline of Friday, March 14th to decide whether to take the buyout. It mentioned the same deadline for workers to choose early retirement.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-10-2025 3PM EDT
Workers can receive up to $25,000 in a lump sum, although if they work for the federal government again within five years, they have to pay the full amount back. The Social Security Administration announced a similar offer to employees on its website, and the Department of Education has reportedly sent similar emails.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-10-2025 3PM EDT
The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to NPR's request for details about the program. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Well, first of all, he spent decades as an anti-vaccine activist leading a group called Children's Health Defense, and he believes a thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. I am sure we'll hear a lot about that since this job has broad powers over federal vaccine policy.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
He has made millions of dollars over the years suing vaccine makers, and he could profit off of lawsuits against Merck while in this job that regulates drug makers. He also denies that HIV causes AIDS. That is an established scientific fact. And he frequently compared COVID-19 public health measures to Hitler's Germany.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
In this role, he would be in charge of the response if there's another pandemic crisis. So there is just so much to talk about. It's really hard to predict how the hearing will play out, but it will definitely be interesting.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
They portray him as a changemaker who will direct scientific research towards the root causes of chronic diseases. He's talked a lot about the importance of healthy food and getting additives out of the food supply. I reached a White House spokesperson last week who told me Kennedy has met with more than 60 senators and he's prepared and excited for this process.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Yeah, so this is definitely a strange bedfellow situation. You have Protect Our Care, which is a left-leaning advocacy organization running ads targeting Republican senators saying he's an anti-vaccine extremist. They point to an incident in Samoa, which is a Pacific island that Kennedy visited in 2019 just before a measles outbreak that killed 83 people.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Thousands of doctors have been speaking out, saying infectious diseases like measles, also poliomeningitis, could make a comeback if the federal government stops supporting routine vaccinations. And then you have Kennedy detractors on the right as well.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Well, former Vice President Mike Pence objects to the fact that Kennedy has been supportive of abortion rights. Now Kennedy says he'll go along with Trump's opposition to abortion rights, but Pence does not buy that. And his group, Advancing American Freedom, has been running its own ads against Kennedy.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Also this week, two conservative media outlets, the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal, ran editorials against his confirmation.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Well, actually, he has two. So today is the hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, and tomorrow is the hearing in the HELP Committee. The Finance Committee will actually vote on his nomination, and after that, it will be voted on by the full Senate.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Pensions.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Okay, thank you.