In this episode of The Stakes, Kettering fellows Kathleen Sebelius and Christine Todd Whitman tackle the pressing challenges posed by President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet appointments. Sebelius, former Secretary of Health and Human Services (HSS), and Whitman, former EPA Administrator, offer a bipartisan critique of nominees Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS and Lee Zeldin for the EPA. Both express grave concerns over the erosion of science-driven policymaking, with Sebelius warning of a public health crisis stemming from vaccine denialism and Whitman highlighting the risk of environmental backsliding under a climate skeptic’s leadership. 

The conversation sheds light on the life-and-death consequences of these appointments, from declining vaccination rates to weakened environmental protections. Their shared message is clear: protecting public health and the environment transcends politics, requiring competence, evidence-based decisions, and a commitment to the common good.