RFK Jr.’s Niece, Tatiana Schlossberg, Delivers Scathing critique of His Proposed Cuts to National cancer Institute
Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of president John F. Kennedy and niece of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,published a blistering essay this week accusing her uncle of prioritizing ideological agendas over scientific progress,specifically citing his plans to drastically reduce funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Schlossberg’s essay, published in The Atlantic, details the devastating impact these cuts would have on cancer research and patient care, framing them as a betrayal of the Kennedy family’s long-standing commitment to public health.
The proposed cuts, revealed during Kennedy’s confirmation hearings as Secretary of Health and Human Services, stem from his skepticism towards biomedical research and a focus on alternative approaches to health. Schlossberg argues that these decisions are not based on scientific evidence but rather on a pattern of promoting debunked theories and distrust in established institutions. The NCI, responsible for funding the majority of cancer research in the United States, stands to lose notable resources under Kennedy’s plan, potentially slowing advancements in treatment and prevention. This comes as Kennedy faces increasing scrutiny for a series of controversial actions and statements as assuming his role, including the spread of misinformation regarding antidepressants and vaccines.
Schlossberg meticulously outlines the history of the Kennedy family’s involvement in cancer research, recalling President Kennedy’s signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971, which dramatically increased funding for the NCI and launched the “War on cancer.” She contrasts this legacy with her uncle’s current stance, highlighting the irony of dismantling a program his uncle championed. “My grandfather believed in science,” Schlossberg writes, “and he believed in using the power of the federal government to solve big problems. My uncle seems to believe in neither.”
The essay also details Kennedy’s broader pattern of dismissing scientific consensus. He has repeatedly made false claims linking antidepressants to school shootings, a claim debunked by USA Today. In June, he fired all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and recently stated he instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, a claim that drew immediate condemnation from medical professionals, including Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who nevertheless voted to confirm him after Kennedy pledged not to alter the CDC’s website regarding vaccine safety.
Beyond cancer research,Kennedy has been criticized for misrepresenting chronic disease rates and overseeing mass firings at the FDA of experts regulating food and drug companies. Schlossberg’s essay serves as a stark internal rebuke, raising questions about Kennedy’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and the future of public health under his leadership. The NCI funding decisions are currently under review, and Schlossberg’s intervention is highly likely to intensify public and congressional pressure on Kennedy to reconsider his proposed cuts.
