Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Donald Trump, suggesting that Trump’s health policy could include revisiting standards for chemicals and pesticides as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. However, former and current EPA staffers reveal that during the Trump administration, the EPA was keen on approving new chemicals and removing regulations despite evidence of harm, leading to pressure to conceal evidence of risks associated with certain chemicals. The EPA also faced allegations of retaliating against scientists expressing differing scientific opinions. Kennedy’s call for greater oversight seems at odds with the Trump administration’s efforts to limit regulatory action on toxic chemicals.
The EPA under Trump failed to investigate potential hazards of chemicals and pushed employees to approve chemicals quickly, leading to alterations in scientific findings to make them appear safer. Karen McCormack, a retired EPA employee, notes that the agency had a culture of penalizing dissenting opinions about chemical harms, which worsened during the Trump administration. Kennedy’s role in a potential Trump administration in terms of appointments or decisions is unclear, but his ties to Trump raise concerns about the EPA’s direction under a second Trump term. Despite Kennedy’s endorsement, many believe the EPA’s policies will remain consistent with those of the first administration, prioritizing industry interests over public health.
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