by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 11, 2024

‘Project Still I Rise’ Nonproﬁt Partners With Google To Equip Youth With AI, Google Workspace Skills

Google Executives mentor Project Still I Rise students in artiﬁcial intelligence fundamentals and other in-demand tech skills in STEM

In December 2023, Dallas-based Project Still I Rise (PSIR) embarked on a partnership with Google as part of Google’s “Grow with Google” Partnership program. From Fall 2023 through Summer 2024, leaders from Google’s afﬁnity group, the Black Googler Network, led a three-part series of workshops introducing elementary- and middle-school students to everything from Google’s Workspace solutions for businesses to Google’s MakerSuite, an app for artiﬁcial intelligence ideation, as well as pathways to careers in the tech industry.

Harding also held an AI Prompt Writing Competition, where students competed for a grand prize of $500.

Career Guidance Session at Google NYC

The three-part series culminated with a visit to Google’s New York City ofﬁce. During their trip, students were exposed to pathways toward careers in the tech industry as well as the efforts and strides made in diversity, inclusion, and gender parity. Members of the Black Googler Network based in the New York ofﬁce were invited to speak to the students about support, mentorship, and career guidance. Why?

According to CNBC, DEI programs have been in broad retreat in recent years, even with numbers as low as 35% of minorities (Asian – 20%, Latinx – 8%, and Black Americans – 7%) in US tech industry jobs and a mere 3.7 million women occupying roles in tech (Source: The Tech Report).

“Seeing themselves in these types of roles is important. The pipeline to tech jobs for diverse candidates is not strong. That’s a reﬂection of exposure at a younger age – starting in elementary or middle school to programs like the robotics and coding camps offered through nonproﬁts like Project Still I Rise.

Thereafter, even with a degree, many diverse candidates aren’t completely prepared — to no fault of their own. It takes mentorship, guidance, and community support. I tell students: ‘You belong here. You can come in and be yourself and add value through your perspective, your skills and knowledge,’” says Williams.

Who: Project Still I Rise Inc., a “High Impact Partner” | 2024 Grow with Google Program

What: 3-part empowerment series on tech skills building and pathways to tech careers

When: Fall 2023 through mid-2024

Where: Dallas, Texas and New York, New York

This story was first reported on Blacknews.com

by Stacy Jackson

December 11, 2024

Maryland Cracker Barrel Allegedly Denies Service To Students With Disabilities

The CCPS students were reportedly seated in a closed area by Cracker Barrel staff to wait for their food and returned to the school to eat.

A Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland, is under fire after a group of 11 students with disabilities were allegedly denied service by staff workers during a field trip on Dec. 3.

A Dec. 5 statement from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent Maria V. Navarro stated that the field trip was part of a community-based instruction (CBI) program designed for enrolled students to practice classroom-taught skills in public spaces, which can include visits to local retail shops and restaurants. According to school officials, the 11 students and seven staff members “were declined service and asked to no longer include the restaurant on its CBI list. The group was able to place a carry-out order.”

“Our students and staff are our No. 1 priority, and we are disheartened to learn about the alleged treatment they received while participating in an activity designed to educate our students using real-world applications,” Navarro’s statement read. Stacey Campbell, a CCPS parent, detailed more of the incident and noted that the children were seated in a closed area while waiting for their takeout order. A CCPS worker stated on Facebook that “immediately, the servers and hosts were very rude to the staff.” The post stated that CCPS staff had multiple conversations with restaurant staff about splitting the group between multiple tables to help serve the large party.

Navarro’s statement confirmed that before CCPS visited the Cracker Barrel, the restaurant had been notified of the planned visit and its purpose. The restaurant, an approved location on the list of trips for the special needs students, was also informed of the number of people in the party. The Waldorf Cracker Barrel reportedly notified CCPS staff that a reservation was unnecessary.

Today reported that Cracker Barrel issued a statement in response to the incident.

“Our missteps last week were unfortunate but were unrelated to the student’s capabilities,” a Cracker Barrel representative stated. The rep claimed the group was refused service because the restaurant was experiencing staffing issues and the second dining room was partially closed. “Our failure to follow certain operational protocols combined with poor communication on our part then led to misunderstandings and misperceptions,” the rep stated.

To combat the alleged discrimination the students and CCPS staff experienced, CCPS parent Dustin Reed has organized a “#CanWeEatNow” protest at the Waldorf Cracker Barrel on Dec. 15 at 1:00 PM. According to Reed’s Facebook post, a recent meeting between CCPS parents and corporate representatives left parents more upset than before. The post said, “the District Manager who asked for this meeting decided he didn’t need to be there.” The issue has prompted a widespread response of community complaints on behalf of the students. Social media users have publicly declared their plans to boycott Cracker Barrel.

Other retailers and restaurants have invited CCPS students to their locations for future trips. Cracker Barrel’s district manager claimed the business is open to working with CCPS to “do better.”

by Daniel Johnson

December 11, 2024

New York City Housing Reforms Reflect Growing YIMBY Movement

New York's reforms are an offshoot of the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement, which Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued support for alongside Sen. Tina Smith in a September op-ed for The New York Times

On Dec. 5, the New York City Council voted to allow the construction of tiny homes or an extra apartment on some property owners’ lots and other reforms aimed at increasing housing access.

According to Business Insider, similar initiatives have been enacted nationwide, increasing renters’ affordability.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have been touted as a potential solution to America’s housing shortage, as prohibitive zoning laws often prevent new single-family homes from being built.

ADUs also boost property values and become an additional source of income for property owners who construct them on their properties.

However, they can be expensive to build. Construction of some types of ADUs can cost between $60,000 and $285,000, and housing regulations in some cities can hamper the development of alternative housing projects, raising the cost of development further. Although there has been an ADU boom since 2022, it isn’t easy to quantify precisely how effective the housing reforms have been because the developments are so recent.

In addition, restrictive local land-use laws, permitting, or other regulations often prevent ADUs from being built, even in states that have opened up to their construction.

New York’s reforms are an offshoot of the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement, which Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) argued support for alongside Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) in a September op-ed for The New York Times.

The op-ed extolled the virtues of social housing and featured plans for rent-controlled homes and homes set aside for lower-income families, essentially allowing housing co-ops.

“Because we believe that housing is a human right, like food or healthcare, we believe that more Americans deserve the option of social housing. That’s why we’re introducing the Homes Act, a plan to establish a new, federally backed development authority to finance and build homes in big cities and small towns across America,” the politicians explained. “These homes would be built to last by union workers and then turned over to entities that agree to manage them for permanent affordability: public and tribal housing authorities, cooperatives, tenant unions, community land trusts, nonprofits, and local governments.”

According to Vox, the housing shortage has failed primarily first-time homebuyers, renters, and poor people.

Because of this, some of the pitched battles between proponents of YIMBYism and NIMBYism have come to resemble the civil rights debates of the 1960s.

YIMBYs want the federal or state governments to override local laws to expand homeownership to those who have been historically locked out, while NIMBYs resist this expansion.

According to Jerusalem Demsas, the author of On The Housing Crisis, transforming the state of housing in America will likely require state action, not local action.

“The core thing that needs to happen in order to address the housing crisis is that we need to move the levers of power from the local to the state level, and there are a lot of ways that people can push for that,” Demsas told The Urbanist. ”I think the most important thing is really getting involved in state politics and trying to make building more housing a core ask of your elected officials. I think a lot of this is going to happen in state houses around the country. There’s a lot that people can do at the local level, but when we’re talking about solving a housing crisis that spans regions, it’s going to take much more significant action.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 10, 2024

Keke Palmer And Big Tigger To Share Inspiration At Atlanta Book Tour Event

Keke Palmer is bringing her "Many Masters" book tour to Atlanta with Big Tigger.

Keke Palmer is bringing her nationwide book tour to Atlanta on Dec. 14, where she’ll dive deep with her “Master Guest” Big Tigger.

The Emmy-winning, multi-talented star is heading to Atlanta for the latest stop on her “Many Masters” nationwide book tour, celebrating her newly released memoir, Master of Me. The Nope actress will join Atlanta’s own Big Tigger—a modern-day “master” and visionary—for an inspiring and empowering conversation about the journey to self-mastery.

This is the latest stop on the first part of Palmer’s book tour which has already visited The Apollo in New York City with Master Guest Michael Strahan and Boston’s First Parish Church with Harvard Bookstore with Master Guest Yara Shahidi. Each “Master” Palmer meets with was selected for being someone the actress “respects most and feels have mastered their lives.”

“These inspiring and empowering conversations will seek to answer the questions, Where do I find my power? How do I master myself?” Palmer’s website states.

Each stop sees Palmer and her fellow masters share personal stories and insights on self-mastery to offer celebrity insight on building confidence, unlocking potential, and navigating life’s challenges with resilience and grace. The Atlanta book tour stop comes amid Palmer becoming a New York Times best-selling author.

The Scream Queens star shared the big news in an Instagram post right ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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A post shared by BIG BOSS 🔑🔑 (@keke)

“Wow!! I can’t believe it. You guys, we did it!!! I couldn’t have done this without you,” she wrote in her caption. “The incredible thing is that this journey is just beginning, the book hasn’t even been out a month yet!”

Palmer continued. “We all are meant to be the “Master of Me,” and with everything I’ve gone through, will go through, and will learn from, I know I will grow from. I look forward to keeping the conversation going and encouraging MYSELF and whoever decides to join in this two-dimensional crazy world where self-mastery is our saving grace. Nuance, grace, and the power of a reframe can do wonders in our lives. WE WILL NEVER BE PERFECT. Still, we do our best.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 10, 2024

Rihanna And A$AP Rocky Give Out Puma Sneakers, Apparel To The Boys & Girls Club Of Harlem

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky gave out free Puma gear to lucky kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky brought their Puma ambassadorship to life at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, surprising lucky kids with sneakers and apparel from the iconic brand.

The superstar couple took to the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem on Dec. 5 to give out sneakers, apparel, accessories, and more products from Puma to over 200 club members, Footwear News reported. Dapper Dan, Danielle Guizio, Colm Dillane, and Emory Jones were also in attendance as the group posed for photos and met with the excited BGC kids.

The charitable event came one day after Rocky accepted the Collaboration of the Year award with Puma at the Footwear News Achievement Awards, where Jones presented the Harlem native with the accolade eight years after Rihanna won the Shoe of the Year award in 2016 for the Fenty Puma Creeper.

“Honestly, this is just like one of the best accomplishments ever,” Rocky said in his acceptance speech. “You know, I was inspired. I saw my lady receive this thing almost a decade ago. Like she inspires me a lot.”

He continued, “But besides that, you know, the thought of me being with Puma and making collaborations is a gift. I mean, I didn’t even think that was really possible. And look at us now, you know what I’m saying? It was always just like, it just felt like it was something missing in the market. And it was me, I was missing.”

In October, Rocky released his latest Puma collection as creative director featuring footwear, ready-to-wear, and accessories inspired by racing. He shared how his collaboration with the retail brand came naturally, thanks in part to Rihanna’s partnership with the brand.

“The collaboration came about after many years of manifestation,” Rocky told Paper Magazine. “Obviously, my girl has a partnership with Puma, as well, so at this point it feels so natural for me.”

“It started out with an incubation to try to bridge the gap between motorsport and sportswear,” he added. What ended up happening is this whirlwind of different ideas, not just motorsport, and it exceeded that.”

Rihanna’s relationship with Puma dates back 10 years to when the global pop star signed on as a brand ambassador and creative director in 2014. The entertainment mogul began releasing collections under the Fenty x Puma moniker in 2016.

Now as a powerhouse couple, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are using their Puma partnerships to pay it forward to the next generation.

2 New Orleans Law Firms Indicted For Staging Accidents For Settlement Money

by Daniel Johnson

December 10, 2024

2 New Orleans Law Firms Indicted For Staging Accidents For Settlement Money

Fox 8's legal analyst Joe Raspanti indicated that the legal community had been waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding the involvement of lawyers and law firms.

In a plot that feels more at home in the worlds of Saints Row or Grand Theft Auto, two New Orleans law firms were indicted on Dec. 9 in a federal lawsuit that accuses them of staging wrecks and faking injuries to collect settlement money.

According to The Guardian, Vanessa Motta, a television stuntwoman turned attorney-at-law, was among at least 52 people indicted for the scheme.

One of her clients was secretly cooperating against her and was shot and killed with help from two other clients of hers in 2020, an incident that delayed the investigation against Motta, which eventually led to her indictment.

Motta’s fiance, Sean Alfortish, was also indicted for his role as the bankroller for the “slammers,” or individuals who intentionally jammed into 18-wheelers.

The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, making false statements, witness tampering through murder, retaliation against a witness through murder, and a violation of the federal Gun Control Act.

Fox 8‘s legal analyst Joe Raspanti indicated in his commentary that the legal community had been waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding the involvement of lawyers and law firms.

“In the legal community, everyone’s talking about it,” Raspanti said. “In the previous indictments, with the people who did the ‘slamming’ and false accidents, the roads would lead back, supposedly, to lawyers. And we were always waiting for something like this to occur.”

According to the indictment, the arrangement of using “spotters” to find 18-wheelers for the “slammers” to target stretched back to early 2011 and continued into 2024.

Following the wrecks, those “slammers” would claim to be injured and sue the truckers’ insurance companies in hopes of getting a generous settlement with the help of lawyers at Motta Law and The King Firm.

Per the indictment, “Alfortish, although he was a disbarred attorney, worked with Motta at Motta Law,” prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “Alfortish paid slammers for staged collisions.”

Ryan Harris, a New Orleans resident who owns a car repair shop, was also named in the indictment as one of the “slammers.”

“Harris was a slammer who drove automobiles and intentionally collided with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles in order to stage collisions,” prosecutors said. “Harris staged collisions for Alfortish, Motta, and Motta Law.”

Harris is also accused of murdering Cornelius Garrison, who was cooperating in the investigation of Motta and others named in the lawsuit.

“I think part of what they’re saying in one of those counts is that they obstructed justice by killing a witness, and that is in this indictment also,” Raspanti noted.

According to one of Motta’s attorneys, if the allegations of staged accidents are true, then she is also a victim.

“If these accidents were, in fact, staged, my client was also a victim and taken advantage of by others. Over the last five years, Vanessa has been unjustly vilified in the press and so while we strongly believe this indictment is misguided, we are looking forward to the trial of this case where Vanessa will finally be vindicated,” Motta’s attorney told Fox 8.

Charlotte Initiative Aims To Be A National Model In Supplying City Contracts To Black Businesses

by Jeffrey McKinney

December 10, 2024

Charlotte Initiative Aims To Be A National Model In Supplying City Contracts To Black Businesses

Charlotte initiative issued $193 million mainly with minority and women businesses last year.

The Charlotte Business INClusion program has an ambitious goal: Within the next two years, it aims to become a national model for dispensing city contracts.

The government-backed initiative in North Carolina’s largest city is allying with small, minority, and women-owned businesses (MWSBEs). In 2023, the city distributed $193 million in city contracts with those firms, up 23% from 2022 and 45% from 2021. The contract spending with those businesses for this year has not been released.

The CBI activity comes as many states have recently ended or curbed diversity and inclusion programs at institutions such as the government, colleges, and businesses.

Research shows that closing racial gaps in business ownership could potentially add up to $5 trillion to the U.S. economy over the next five years. Cities nationwide are striving for more inclusive economies.

CBI is a key part of Charlotte’s ecosystem, empowered by City Manager Marcus Jones. Its work includes identifying, communicating, and connecting with certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to help them obtain projects. CBI currently contracts with about 560 businesses, including MWSBEs and Black entrepreneurs. It hopes to boost that to 640 by next year.

Steven Coker, Charlotte’s business inclusion officer, stated, “By embedding our efforts within the city’s operational framework, CBI serves as a critical bridge between municipal resources and Charlotte’s diverse business community.”

Coker says CBI differentiates itself from similar programs in other cities in many ways. For instance, CBI utilizes 12 staff members and more than 35 liaisons in over 20 city departments to help ensure seamless integration of inclusion goals across all municipal functions.

Other efforts include offering a Contractor Development Program to support surety bonding readiness. Regular disparity studies and economic impact analyses allow CBI to identify gaps, measure success accountability, and refine strategies. Coker declared that other cities intending to foster economic equity could draw inspiration from CBI’s approach.

“These combined efforts create a nationally recognized model of inclusivity, positioning Charlotte as a leader in supplier diversity and economic equity,” Coker says.

Coker provided examples of CBI-certified Black-owned businesses that have secured contracts. One was DA Everett Construction Group, a 20% partnership with Turner Construction on the $215 million renovation of the Charlotte Hornets’ Spectrum Center arena. Another is McFarland Construction, which secured a 20% partnership with JE Dunn Construction to build a $20 million-plus fire station.

Conversely, CBI’s top challenge is increasing the capacity and resources it provides MBEs to support their growth. Coker says CBI hopes to overcome that hurdle by starting new efforts like CBI University next February. It is a collection of programs offering technical support and educational resources to MBEs and other programs.

In May 2024, Charlotte launched a $40 million growth fund to offer financing for MBEs. Coker says the fund addresses access to affordable financing, one of the largest barriers these firms face.

He says the fund aims to provide 2,000 loans up to $250K during the next four years. The loans will be administered by six Community Development Financial Institution fund partners. He stressed that the fund will help businesses scale operations and pursue larger contracts.

As 2025 approaches, Coker says Black-owned firms should contact him or any CBI member here and visit this site to help boost their chances of securing contracts next year. Coker suggests businesses leverage the Contractor Development Program to gain the technical skills, mentorship, and support needed to enhance competitiveness.

Coker added, “To every MWSBE business interested in working with the City of Charlotte, my message is simple: we are open for business and here to help you unlock the doors to opportunity.”

Judge, Las Vegas, gavel,Herman Whitfield III, Indianapolis police, David Merryman, racist landlord,

by Daniel Johnson

December 10, 2024

Indianapolis Police Officers Acquitted In Death Of Herman Whitfield III

It took almost a year for the officers to be indicted and for the police to release the complete and unedited body cam footage following repeated calls from Whitfield's the family.

Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez, the two Indianapolis police officers charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and misdemeanor battery charges regarding the 2022 death of Herman Whitfield III, were acquitted on all charges on Dec. 6.

According to The New York Times, the two men were the responding officers on a call for a wellness check after it was reported that Whitfield was having a mental health crisis.

The call to the police department was placed by Whitfield’s mother, Gloria, and according to the bodycam footage, the 39-year-old Whitfield was walking around her house fully nude.

The footage also showed Whitfield running. One of the officers deployed a taser and stunned the man, which caused him to fall down, and the officers handcuffed Whitfield while one pushed his face into the floor; Whitfield told the officers, “I’m dying,” and said that he couldn’t breathe.

Later, in the footage, the two officers performed CPR on Whitfield.

It took almost a year for the officers to be indicted and for the police to release the complete and unedited body cam footage following repeated calls from Whitfield’s family to do so.

According to The Associated Press, the family also called for the firing of up to six of the police department’s officers.

According to a statement from Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, “In April 2022, Herman Jr. and Gladys Whitfield reached out for help, hoping that the police would protect their son in a moment of desperate need, and the result of what ensued was a tragedy.”

In court, Daniel Cicchini, the chief trial deputy for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, argued in his opening statement on Dec. 2 that the officers acted “recklessly” in restraining Whitfield longer than necessary.

“Essentially, his heart and lungs could no longer function properly,” Cicchini told the jury. “When they kept him in that position, they did so recklessly,” as a result of the officers’ actions, Whitfield was “unable to breathe.”

Following the acquittals of the two Indianapolis police officers, they will be allowed to return to their normal duties after completing a refresher course.

Per the department’s standard protocol, the officers had been placed on administrative leave after their indictment.

The next opportunity for the family to receive some justice for the death of their son will be through a civil suit, which is set to begin in July 2025.

Per The Associated Press, the suit seeks unspecified damages.

According to the lawsuit, Whitfield “died because of the force used against him” and says that he was the target of “unreasonable and excessive” force. It also argues that “Mr. Whitfield needed professional mental health care, not the use of excessive force.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 10, 2024

Stephen and Ayesha Curry Provide $2M In Resources Through Annual Christmas With The Currys

Every elementary school student in Oakland also received a holiday gift.

NBA superstar Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha’s 12th annual Christmas with the Currys celebration provided more than $2 million in resources and support for the students and families, the couple’s Eat.Learn.Play charitable foundation reports.

“Each year, our creative and talented community of volunteers and supporters come together to bring the magic of the holiday season to life for more than 18,000 elementary school students in the Oakland Unified School District,” Stephen and Ayesha Curry said in a press release. “Through the hard work of our team and our amazing partners, we’re excited to revitalize libraries throughout the new year and beyond to give kids a destination to read, learn, and dream.”

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A post shared by Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation (@eatlearnplay)

Eat. Learn. Play. has helped Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) students and families through various events and functions via holiday events and pop-up book fairs.

Students received gifts from Eat. Learn. Play.’s partners, including a $200,000 gift from Safeway Foundation for 1,000 Oakland families needing Safeway gift cards for this holiday season. As they have for the previous four years, Eat. Learn. Play. gave a holiday gift to all 18,000 elementary school students in Oakland.

The festivities started with a special holiday event at Madison Park Academy on Dec. 4, where the Currys surprised over 200 elementary school students with activities such as an on-site book fair, a schoolyard design session guided by artists from Pixar, a holiday-themed petting zoo, and fun field day games.

The organization just announced a new initiative to renovate elementary school libraries throughout Oakland Unified School District in 2025 and beyond. Libraries throughout the district will be refreshed with books, new library furniture, and grants that provide additional support in spaces they are excited to be in.

Eat. Learn. Play recently committed $25 million to advance the literacy movement in Oakland through one-on-one, professional tutoring, and other literacy initiatives.

RELATED CONTENT: Stephen Curry Makes NBA History Once Again

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, American Academy Of Pediatrics , vaccines

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 10, 2024

Nobel Prize Winners Put Pressure On U.S. Senate To Reject RFK Jr. Confirmation

Who else is against Kennedy leading HHS?

More than 75 esteemed Nobel Prize winners are urging U.S. Senate leaders to push back against Robert Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The Hill reports.

Seventy-seven winners, to be exact, in the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics, and economics issued a letter to Capitol Hill with a list of concerns regarding Kennedy’s lack of “relevant experience” and some of the public stances he has taken. “In addition to his lack of credentials or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health, or administration, Mr. Kennedy has been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio; a critic of the well-established positive effects of fluoridation of drinking water; a promoter of conspiracy theories about remarkably successful treatments for AIDS and other diseases; and a belligerent critic of respected agencies (especially the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health),” the letter read.

“The leader of DHHS [Department of Health and Human Services] should continue to nurture and improve — not threaten — these important and highly respected institutions and their employees.”

The Nobel laureates are added to the list of public health figures and leaders who pushed back against Kennedy soon after President-elect Donald Trump nominated the controversial pick for the position. Some expressed concern about how Kennedy could mess with key government agencies, heighten vaccine hesitancy, and direct agency funding toward his preferred views. Prior to being nominated, in October 2024, Kennedy pushed back on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on X, claiming the agency’s “war on public health is about to end.” “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags,” he wrote.

Despite the outcry, Trump has yet to step back on his decision and insists the former presidential nominee will “restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

According to Forbes, the letter, signed by 2024 winners in economics Simon Johnson and Daron Acemoglu, medicine winners Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, and immunologist Drew Weissman, who won in 2023 for medicine after curating the way for one type of COVID-19 vaccine, is labeled as the first time in some years that winners came together to reject a Cabinet choice.

By taking a deep dive into his record, the Nobel laureates feel “placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would jeopardize the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global leadership in the health sciences, in both the public and commercial sectors.”

In response to the letter, a Trump transition team spokesperson said, “Americans are sick and tired of the elites telling them what to do and how to do it.” “Our healthcare system in this country is broken; Mr. Kennedy will enact President Trump’s agenda to restore the integrity of our healthcare and Make America Healthy Again,” the statement continued.

If Kennedy is confirmed, he would be responsible for a department that oversees 13 separate agencies with a budget of nearly $2 trillion and handles federal health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. HHS and sub-agencies are collectively tasked with responding to diseases and public health threats like COVID-19 and the bird flu and approving new drugs and vaccines.