▼ Summary
– Richard Woychik, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is leaving to advance the Make America Healthy Again movement’s goals in a new federal role.
– His replacement was installed through a non-standard hiring process and is a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, raising concerns about political interference in science.
– The National Toxicology Program under Woychik’s leadership produced two controversial studies linking cellphone radiation to cancer in male rats and fluoride to lower IQ in children.
– Both studies have been widely criticized for methodological flaws and largely dismissed by the scientific community.
– The studies support MAHA movement conspiracy theories promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who advocates removing fluoride from water and links 5G radiation to health issues.
A significant leadership change at a prominent federal health agency is raising serious questions about the increasing politicization of scientific institutions. The outgoing director of a key institute is taking on a new role aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, while his replacement, a close associate of Vice President JD Vance, was appointed through a process experts describe as highly irregular. This development, communicated to staff in an internal email, has intensified existing concerns that political agendas are undermining the integrity of government science.
Richard Woychik, a molecular geneticist, is stepping down from his position as director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). He has led the North Carolina-based institute since 2020 and was recently confirmed for a second five-year term. Woychik’s long tenure at the NIEHS began in 2010 when he joined as deputy director, and he later served as acting director before his official appointment.
In his capacity as NIEHS director, Woychik also oversaw the National Toxicology Program (NTP). This program generated two of the most contentious government studies in recent years under his leadership. The first, initially released in 2016 and finalized in 2018, asserted a link between cellphone radiation and cancer, though its conclusions were based solely on studies involving male rats. The second report, finalized this year, suggested that high fluoride exposure can reduce children’s IQ. Both investigations have faced extensive criticism from the broader scientific community, with many experts pointing to significant flaws in their methodology and analytical approach.
Despite their questionable scientific merit, the findings of these reports dovetail with claims promoted by the MAHA movement. This political initiative is championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current US health secretary and a well-known anti-vaccine activist. As secretary, Kennedy has publicly committed to eliminating fluoride from public water systems, despite decades of evidence confirming its safety and remarkable effectiveness in preventing tooth decay. He has also repeatedly alleged that radiation from 5G cell phone technology is responsible for causing cancer, a host of other health issues, genetic damage, and even functions as a tool for mass surveillance.
(Source: Ars Technica)