By JP Errico

The incoming Trump administration has set an ambitious goal to transform the culture and operations of government. A recurring theme across all initiatives is the decoupling of corporate interests from regulatory activities—especially when these interests conflict with the well-being of Americans. Whether addressing the military-industrial complex, the coziness among monopolistic banks and federal regulators, or the incestuous ties between the food, drug, and insurance industries and their agency overseers, the new administration seeks to disrupt the status quo.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) consists of an entrenched system of captured agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which have long been influenced by big agriculture, pharmaceutical conglomerates, and insurance providers. Having worked in the healthcare sector as an entrepreneur, scientist, and executive, I have experienced this dysfunction firsthand. Trump has enlisted a team of reformers—led by —who aim to shift the focus of HHS from corporate profit to public health, creating a departmental culture basedin integrity, transparency, and the well-being of Americans.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and HHS: Cleaning Up America’s Food System

RFK Jr. has spent decades challenging corporate malfeasance in the pharmaceutical, food, and insurance industries, as well as the government agencies that have facilitated it. As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy plans to realign the department around promoting health, eliminating chronic disease, and restoring public trust. Central to this mission is addressing the root causes of America’s health crisis, such as neurotoxic and inflammation-triggering food additives, ultra-processed foods, and the incentives that encourage insurance and pharmaceutical companies to perpetuate sickness rather than restore health.

Critics have distorted Kennedy’s views on vaccination to undermine his credibility. Yet his position has been consistent and sound: vaccines, like any other medical product, should be subject to rigorous safety standards. RFK Jr. wants transparency in vaccine manufacturing, including clear labeling of ingredients and removal of carcinogenic or mutagenic contaminants. His commitment to scientific rigor and public health, combined with his defense of free speech, positions him as a transformative leader for HHS.

The FDA Under Dr. Marty Makary: Tackling Industry Capture

The FDA is plagued by a “revolving door” of agency officials transitioning to lucrative industry jobs, creating conflicts of interest that compromise regulatory decisions. This culture has allowed pharmaceutical companies, food manufacturers, and medical device firms to exert undue influence over the agency’s actions, from drug approvals to food safety regulations.

Dr. Marty Makary, a surgeon and public health advocate, aims to restore the FDA’s independence and credibility. He plans to implement stricter conflict-of-interest policies to prevent regulators from joining the industries they oversee.

Makary will also target harmful food ingredients, such as seed oils and artificial dyes, which are linked to chronic health conditions. He wants to the practice of letting industry self-certify food additives as “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS), ensuring better oversight of food safety. By refocusing the FDA’s priorities on public health rather than corporate interests, Makary seeks to rebuild confidence in one of the nation’s most critical regulatory agencies.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya at the NIH: Restoring Scientific Integrity

The NIH has faced criticism for its mishandling of scientific debate and suppression of dissent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency’s alignment with political and pharmaceutical agendas eroded public trust in both the NIH and the broader field of medical science.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor and public health researcher, has been an outspoken critic of the NIH’s approach to COVID-19, including its suppression of alternative viewpoints on the virus’s origins, lockdown measures, and vaccine safety. His appointment signals a commitment to restoring the NIH’s mission of advancing unbiased medical research. Bhattacharya plans to create an environment where scientific dissent is encouraged rather than silenced, ensuring that public health policies are informed by a diversity of perspectives.

Bhattacharya also aims to diversify research funding, redirecting resources from such “sacred cows” as the amyloid beta theory of Alzheimer’s and the serotonin hypothesis of depression to promising approaches that prioritize nutrition, preventive care, and innovative treatments. He will work to address inequities in grant distribution, ensuring that smaller, innovative researchers have a fair shot at funding. Under Bhattacharya’s leadership, the NIH is poised to become a beacon of scientific integrity and inclusivity.

A Collective Vision for Reform

This collective effort marks more than a policy shift—it is a cultural transformation. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and public health, the incoming administration aims to restore trust in HHS and its agencies. While the challenges ahead are significant, the commitment of these leaders offers hope for a healthier, more equitable future for all Americans.

JP Errico is a highly accomplished scientist with a diverse range of expertise as an executive, entrepreneur, and inventor. He is an expert on the Autonomic Nervous System. He is the Founder of ElectroCore, where he pioneered a non-invasive Vagus Nerve stimulator. JP has been credited as an inventor on over 250 issued US patents. He went to MIT for undergrad and holds graduate degrees in both law and mechanical/materials engineering from Duke University.

This article was originally published by RealClearHealth and made available via RealClearWire.

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