Nurses for America (NFA) is a grassroots organization of nurses that educates nurses, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about issues affecting the health and well-being of patients, families, communities, and the public. Nurses for America engages nurses in helping to elect candidates who share nursing values, will refute disinformation, and will act to support public policy including:
We believe that nurses deserve an approach that honors their values and centers their voices. Advocacy must reflect the compassion, integrity, and courage that define our profession—not compromise them. Rather than being silent to appear neutral, we believe in boldly standing for what matters most to nurses: equitable access to care, safe workplaces, a healthy environment, and a commitment to justice. True advocacy doesn’t simply secure a seat at the table; it challenges the system to align with the principles of nursing—caring for all, especially the most vulnerable. By staying rooted in these values, we can lead meaningful change and build a future where nurses’ sacrifices are honored, their needs prioritized, and their voices lead the way.
PUBLIC STATEMENT
Contact: info@nursesforamerica.net
For Immediate Release
April 9th, 2025
Nurses for America Stands in Solidarity with the American Public Health Association Executive Director’s call for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy
"Americans deserve better than someone who is trying to impose his unscientific and judgmental view of public health and science. We deserve better than RFK Jr. He demonstrated his incompetence in only a few weeks."—Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association (APHA), April 9, 2025
Nurses for America (NFA) stands firmly in support of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Georges Benjamin, in calling for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
We share APHA’s deep concerns about Secretary Kennedy’s failure to uphold the critical mission of HHS: to protect the health and well-being of all Americans. His actions have eroded public trust in our health agencies and weakened the nation's ability to respond to serious health threats. During his short tenure, preventable outbreaks of diseases such as measles and pertussis have resulted in unnecessary deaths.
As Secretary, Kennedy is responsible for coordinating the federal response to public health emergencies and advancing science-based public health policy. Instead, we feel that he has repeatedly promoted misinformation and demonstrated a disregard for science and evidence.
The American people deserve better. Nurses for America joins APHA in demanding accountability, integrity, and leadership that strengthens—not undermines—our public health system.
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Date: Apr 09 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
APHA expressed concerns about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as the choice for secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and in the few short weeks that he has been in this position, those concerns have been realized. The recent implementation of massive reductions in staff at key health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration, among others, along with acknowledgement since that many of these people shouldn’t have been fired, is the latest example of poor and thoughtless management that will only undermine the work of our nation’s top public health agencies to keep us all healthy.
During his nomination hearing, he promised that if shown the data regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines, he would be “the first person to reassure the American people that they need to take those vaccines.” And yet during the hearing, he was confronted with multiple studies and responded with a small and unsupported study that reinforced his position as a vaccine skeptic.
His implicit and explicit bias and complete disregard for science has been in evidence since he was sworn in as Secretary. He has:
Dr. Marks wrote in his resignation letter “It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
Americans deserve better than someone who is trying to impose his unscientific and judgmental view of public health and science. We deserve better than RFK, Jr. He demonstrated his incompetence in only a few weeks.
As a physician, I pledged to first do no harm and to speak up when I see harm being done by others. I ask my colleagues to join me and speak up. Secretary Robert Kennedy is a danger to the public’s health and should resign or be fired.
Nurses for America acknowledges that voting is a social determinant of health and significantly contributes to patients access to healthcare,
NFA supports measures to facilitate safe and equitable access to voting including increased number of polling locations with disability access including low vision .
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