Nomination of RFK Jr. reflects a broader shakeup in the politics of health

Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy , Jr. , a former Democrat who ran as an independent presidential candidate, as secretary of Health and Human Services .

Kennedy has promised to ban food additives, remove sodas from food stamp programs, overhaul nutritional guidelines.

He could face resistance in Senate confirmation hearings for his debunked claims about vaccines.

Some of Kennedy ’s proposals, such as capping drug prices paid by insurers and keeping junk food out of public nutrition programs, are popular among Democrats .

But his biggest supporters include entrepreneurs and activists on the right who want to loosen the pharmaceutical industry's influence on drug regulation and roll back public-health mandates.

Critics say Kennedy has profited from the causes that he pursues, rooted in an anti-establishment politics.

The FDA is only one of the agencies that would fall under Mr. Kennedy ’s sway if he was confirmed.

The Department of Health and Human Services also monitors and fights infectious diseases, decides on treatment coverage by Medicare and Medicaid .

Public-health experts say that doesn’t mean Congress should confirm a vaccine skeptic who has spread disinformation.