Top Democrats question RFK Jr.’s health care advisory panel

July 15, 2026 - 00:01

A group of senior Democratic senators is raising concerns about the composition of a health care advisory panel assembled by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a letter sent this week, the lawmakers specifically questioned the inclusion of several major Trump donors and the prominent motivational speaker Tony Robbins, arguing that their presence raises serious conflicts of interest and questions about the panel's credibility.

The panel, officially tasked with advising on national health policy and vaccine safety, has drawn scrutiny for its lack of medical and scientific expertise among certain members. The senators' letter notes that several appointees have no background in public health, epidemiology, or clinical medicine. Instead, they point to a history of political donations to former President Donald Trump and, in the case of Robbins, a long record of promoting unproven health remedies and pseudoscientific claims.

"We are deeply troubled that this advisory body appears to be stocked with political loyalists and wellness gurus rather than qualified scientists and doctors," the letter states. The senators have requested a full list of the panel's members, their qualifications, and any financial ties to the health care industry or political campaigns. They have given the department until the end of the month to respond, warning that a lack of transparency could lead to a formal investigation into the panel's formation and its potential influence on federal health guidelines.