Kennedy Criticizes FDA, Announces HHS Layoffs | JQJO

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a speech to FDA employees, introduced himself as the nation's health secretary. His address touched on various topics, from environmental concerns to the agency's alleged corporate subservience. Kennedy's HHS overhaul has resulted in a 20% workforce reduction across divisions including tobacco oversight, drug approval, and food safety. He criticized the FDA for not approving 'alternative medicines,' a claim countered by agency veterans citing safety and efficacy concerns.

A powerful coalition of federal legislators, executive branch officials, and multinational technology corporations has coalesced around a strategy of "federal preemption," seeking to strip state governments of their authority over generative AI. The coalition argues that the legal frameworks governing these technologies are in a state of flux as generative AI affects every sector of the economy, from healthcare diagnostics to creative industries. The push aims to centralize regulation at the federal level, limiting state‑level oversight of AI development and deployment.