Jim O’Neill selected to lead HHS alongside RFK Jr. as deputy
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SUMMARY
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Jim O’Neill as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to serve alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the incoming HHS Secretary. O’Neill, a managing director at Peter Thiel’s Mithril Capital and former Principal Associate Deputy Secretary at HHS under President George W. Bush, brings experience in government and the private sector. Trump highlighted O’Neill’s focus on improving management, transparency, and accountability within the department. O’Neill has sparked debate for advocating reforms to the FDA’s drug approval process. In a 2014 speech, he proposed approving drugs based on safety alone, leaving efficacy to be proven post-market. Supporters view this as a way to foster innovation and speed access to treatments, while critics argue it risks public health and misunderstands the FDA’s role.
