Jack Schlossberg, the Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District, has vowed to launch a formal investigation into the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if elected, citing what he described as “criminality” under the leadership of his cousin, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a sharp escalation of a public family divide, Schlossberg, 33, used a recent interview with MS NOW to condemn the Secretary’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) platform. The congressional hopeful argued the administration has prioritized rhetoric over escalating public health crises, specifically noting a resurgence in measles outbreaks and a “brain drain” of veteran scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“All I’ve seen is a food pyramid that’s been flipped upside down,” Schlossberg said, dismissing the Secretary’s focus on junk food as a redundant distraction from more pressing medical vulnerabilities facing his New York constituents.
Schlossberg’s proposed oversight would focus heavily on the scientific integrity of HHS directives. He specifically questioned the Secretary’s focus on Tylenol as a primary cause of autism—a claim that has faced significant scrutiny from the mainstream medical community—while ignoring other established environmental and genetic factors.
Beyond policy, the investigation would seek to uncover the financial motivations behind the Secretary’s public statements.
“I want to know who is paying for the words that come out of his mouth,” Schlossberg stated. He alleged that members of the current administration are “making a lot of money” while American working families continue to struggle with healthcare costs and declining outcomes.
The rift within the Kennedy family has intensified since January 2025, when Caroline Kennedy—Schlossberg’s mother and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy—issued a scathing letter denouncing her cousin’s appointment. She labeled the Secretary a “predator” who exploits the desperation of parents and suggested that her late father and uncles would be “disgusted” by the current trajectory of federal health policy.
Schlossberg also signaled that this legislative scrutiny is a preemptive response to the Secretary’s future ambitions. Despite the current term, Schlossberg noted that Kennedy maintains a “cultish” following and is widely expected to pursue a 2028 presidential bid.
As the race for NY-12 intensifies, Schlossberg is positioning himself not just as a legislator, but as a primary check on the Kennedy-led HHS, ensuring that scientific accountability remains a central issue on the 2026 ballot.
