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RFK Jr., Onetime Environmentalist, Kills NIH Climate Change Programs

Summary

On his second day as Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cut funding for three National Institutes of Health (NIH) programs focused on climate change and public health. The affected initiatives include research on wildfire-related health risks, heat-exacerbated diseases, and urban planning for flood resilience. The decision follows President Trump’s executive order rescinding Biden-era climate actions. Senior HHS adviser Ken Callahan, a former Trump administration official, directed NIH to halt participation unless mandated by Congress. Experts warn the cuts undermine efforts to address rising health threats from climate change, including heat-related illnesses, asthma, and infectious diseases. Kennedy, once an environmental advocate, claims he and Trump “agree to disagree” on climate change but insists his priority is public health. Critics argue that by dismantling programs protecting Americans from climate-driven health risks, Kennedy’s actions contradict his stated mission.

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