The Robert F. Kennedy Jr.–led Health and Human Services Department has shifted its focus from vaccine skepticism to addressing public concerns about 5G technology. In a statement released this week, HHS invited Americans to share information on potential exposure to electromagnetic fields from cellphones, Wi‑Fi, smart meters, wearable devices, wireless medical equipment and autonomous vehicles. The agency said that public comments would help identify research gaps and strengthen regulations to protect health.
5G, the most advanced cellular network, went nationwide in December 2019. Three months later, COVID‑19 cases surged and a conspiracy theory claiming that 5G spread the virus gained traction online. Earlier, in 2018, before 5G was available, some claimed it was linked to cancer. Kennedy, known for promoting other debunked claims about vaccines and chemtrails, has expressed concern about 5G’s health effects.
In a January interview with USA TODAY, Kennedy said electromagnetic radiation is a major health concern and cited “literally over 10,000 studies” documenting ill effects such as cancer, tumor growth and blood‑brain‑barrier disruption. Those claims have been widely refuted. A 2024 review of 63 peer‑reviewed studies found no evidence linking cellphones to cancer, and the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both state they lack science to connect cell‑phone use to health problems.
HHS’s request for information follows the Make America Healthy Again strategy, which directed the department to examine electromagnetic radiation and health research. The call to the public comes as Kennedy has spoken to the anti‑vaccine group Children’s Health Defense—which he founded—about the group’s opposition to cell‑tower installation and hinted at a “friend in the White House.”
