ROCHESTER, N.Y. — What could President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the secretary of Health and Human Services mean for New Yorkers, should he be confirmed? The state’s top health leader shared his thoughts.

What You Need To Know

  • New York's top leader takes questions on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary 

  • President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of RFK is getting a mixed response

  • "Let the confirmation process unfold and let's see what happens," said Dr. James McDonald

Kennedy has promised sweeping changes to the department which oversees the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.

“So, just to be really clear, the mission of the New York State Department of Health [is to] protect and promote the health and well-being for all, built on a foundation of health equity. That's our mission. That doesn't change with any election. It's our mission,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.

McDonald discussed the importance of vaccines during part of a news conference in Rochester on Friday. Kennedy is well known as an anti-vaccine activist and opposes mass and mandated vaccinations. 

Trump says HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products and food additives that he says have contributed to what he calls the "health crisis" in this country and that Kennedy will make changes to end the chronic disease epidemic.

We asked Dr. McDonald if and how he will work with RFK in the new administration if he's confirmed.

“Let the confirmation process unfold and let's see what happens," said McDonald. "I'm a pediatrician at heart. I can work with anybody. And I'll tell you that my friends, like you, it's just I can work with anybody on any topic. I'm a very agreeable soul. But one of the things I've learned in life is, you get a lot more flies with honey and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I've learned to squeak with honey. And I've found it very effective throughout my career, so we're going to be fine.”

McDonald wouldn’t comment further about RFK as his role is unclear and at the nomination level. However, he did make it clear that he and Gov. Kathy Hochul are on the same page, stating that the health and safety of New Yorkers is their top priority.