Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed wants to investigate Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. over staffing cuts at federal health agencies, which he says have affected food safety and the government’s response to disease outbreaks.
El-Sayed argued that staffing cuts at the FDA and CDC affected the agencies’ ability to prevent food-related illnesses and respond to outbreaks. He pointed to the cyclospora outbreak over the summer and recent recalls involving blueberries, blackberries and meat.
Speaking to CNN’s Kate Bolduan, El-Sayed said he wants to examine decisions made at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He said the investigation should help explain what happened and how the problems can be addressed.
El-Sayed argued that the decisions made under Kennedy’s leadership need closer examination, particularly when it comes to food safety and public health. The former public health official has also supported major healthcare changes, including Medicare for All, and reducing the influence of corporate money in politics.
He also criticised Kennedy’s approach to public health, describing it as “anti-science”.
