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Over the next few weeks, the Senate will consider President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key Cabinet positions, which require Senate approval. If you are as appalled as I am by the lack of experience and complete unsuitability of some of Trump’s proposed candidates, now is the time to urge Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King to vote against the worst of these nominees.
There are at least six of particular concern to me. All of them have taken positions that are severely at odds with current agency missions, policies, and practices. I believe they have potential to do great damage to our government’s ability to foster health, peace, and prosperity here and abroad.
Pete Hegseth (secretary of Defense nominee) has opposed having women in combat and has a reported history of management failures, heavy drinking and sexual assault allegations. Tulsi Gabbard (director of National Intelligence nominee) has shown sympathy toward dictatorial regimes in Russia and Syria.
Kash Patel (Federal Bureau of Investigation director nominee) is infamous for what some have called his “enemies list.” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (secretary of Health and Human Services nominee) is strongly against vaccination requirements that have been proven to protect our population from potentially devastating diseases. Dave Weldon (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nominee) has questioned the safety of some vaccines. Linda McMahon (secretary of Education nominee) supports policies that would deplete funding of public education to help fund private schools.
Please write or call your senators and tell them how you feel.
Susan Conard
Northport