Trump’s incoming administration has chosen Dr. Dorothy Fink, a board-certified endocrinologist and career official, to serve temporarily as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, according to three individuals familiar with internal staffing decisions who requested anonymity while discussing the matter.
Fink currently heads the Office on Women’s Health within the department and specializes in menopause care. She is expected to guide the nearly $2 trillion health agency while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. waits to be reviewed and confirmed by the Senate as Trump’s permanent pick for the job.
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His confirmation hearings have not yet been set, and concerns over his positions on abortion, vaccines, and other health policies have drawn criticism from both political parties, which might delay the Senate’s actions.
Other Picks for Emergency Preparedness Roles
Trump has also selected Houston Park, a former fire captain from Palm Beach County in Florida, to be the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, according to four individuals involved in the transition. Trump resides in Palm Beach and has had long-standing ties to the area.
Park, who had partnered with the Florida Department of Health in efforts to tackle the opioid crisis, would be tasked with managing national health emergencies. This position also requires confirmation from the Senate.
Working directly under Park would be John Knox, a veteran firefighter from Los Angeles who lost his position after refusing the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Knox’s appointment was confirmed by individuals with knowledge of the selections.
No Public Comment From Transition Team or Appointees
The Trump transition team did not issue an official response regarding the appointments of Fink, Park, or Knox. Park, when reached by phone on Sunday night, declined to give a statement. Fink and Knox did not respond to email requests sent the same night.
Fink had originally joined the Department of Health and Human Services back in 2018 during Trump’s earlier term, when she was appointed as deputy assistant secretary for women’s health. Her former boss, Brett Giroir, who held the post of Assistant Secretary for Health, gave her strong praise via text message on Sunday evening.
“She is highly capable both in science and in medicine,” Giroir stated, though he mentioned he had no direct knowledge of any role she might play in Trump’s second term.
Previous Transition Recommendation and Kennedy’s Hurdles
Officials who were part of the federal transition process had suggested Norris Cochran, a respected official known for managing budget matters and who had led HHS during earlier transitions, to step in once again as the department’s temporary head. This recommendation was shared by three people familiar with the internal discussions.
Many within the Democratic Party, along with some Republicans, are trying to block Kennedy from becoming the permanent secretary. This resistance could mean the department remains without a Senate-approved leader for quite some time.
Last week, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts submitted close to 175 questions to Kennedy, challenging his ideas about vaccines and other medical concerns. Meanwhile, Mike Pence, who previously served as vice president, asked senators to question Kennedy on his stance toward abortion.
While some Republicans and former Trump administration members have shown support for Kennedy, their defense of him is mainly based on his desire to challenge what he sees as the deeper reasons behind America’s poor health outcomes.
