Trump’s team is strategically placing allies around RFK Jr. to ensure control over health policies
Washington: So, it looks like Trump is putting some serious guardrails around RFK Jr. as he steps into the health department. Just a few months back, Trump was all about letting Kennedy go wild with health care. But now, his advisers are stepping in to keep things in check.
They’re planning to fill key roles in the health department with seasoned GOP folks before Kennedy even gets confirmed as the Health and Human Services secretary. This way, they can keep a close eye on him and make sure he’s surrounded by people who know the ropes.
There’s a bit of concern about having a Kennedy in such a high position, especially since he’s a Democrat. One former Trump health official mentioned that the White House wants to ensure they have their people around him to maintain control.
They’ve already tapped Heather Flick, a veteran GOP lawyer, to be Kennedy’s chief of staff. She’s known for being a strong conservative and is expected to steer the department’s daily priorities in line with Trump’s agenda.
Hannah Anderson, another Trump ally, is also likely to join Kennedy’s senior team. With these early hires, the department might end up looking more traditional than expected, especially with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance.
There’s a lot of back-and-forth happening over who gets to join Kennedy’s team. While he’s been given some leeway, there are definitely limits. Trump’s aides are scrutinizing candidates to ensure they have the right loyalties.
At the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, they’re making some high-level appointments too. John Brooks is coming back as the chief operating officer, and Chris Klomp will lead the Medicare program.
Kennedy is still close with Trump and is expected to bring in a few of his allies, but some of his closest friends might not join the department. They’ll still have influence from the outside, helping him with candidate vetting and policy planning.
Trump’s advisers are trying to balance the demands from different factions to avoid any internal conflicts that could derail their health agenda. They’re working with Kennedy to agree on key appointees, which seems to be going smoothly so far.
Transition officials are hoping that Flick will help keep things steady and bridge the gap between Kennedy’s idealism and the practicalities of running the agency. Everyone’s trying to play nice this time around, avoiding the infighting that plagued the first Trump term.
In the end, Trump’s allies are making it clear that Kennedy is working for Trump now, and they plan to keep it that way. They’re surrounding him with people who will report back to the top, ensuring that the administration’s goals stay on track.
