FKRobert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and activist, was confirmed as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on February 13, 2025. Through his organization, Children’s Health Defense (CHD), he has long raised concerns about health risks from wireless technologies.
His focus on cell phone radiation led to a significant 2021 lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which he described as a major victory, stating, “I just won a big suit against FCC… for lying to the public about cell phone radiation.” In the case, Children’s Health Defense v. Federal Communications Commission, decided on August 13, 2021, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, CHD challenged the FCC’s 2019 decision to keep its 1996 safety guidelines for radiofrequency (RF) exposure from cell phones, wireless devices, and 5G networks.
The court found the FCC’s decision “arbitrary and capricious,” ruling that the agency failed to properly review evidence suggesting potential health risks. These included studies on non-thermal effects, impacts on children, and environmental concerns.
The FCC was criticized for not providing a clear explanation for dismissing thousands of submitted studies. The court ordered the FCC to revisit its guidelines and address these issues thoroughly. For the report, recommend examining FCC actions following the 2021 ruling to assess updates to RF exposure policies.