Trump Nominates Jay Bhattacharya, COVID Lockdown Critic, for NIH Director

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford physician and economist known for his controversial views on Covid-19, as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya, a critic of lockdowns and mandates during the pandemic, has called for significant reforms at the NIH, accusing former leaders of stifling scientific debate. His appointment aligns with Trump's pattern of selecting contrarian figures for health roles, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary. Bhattacharya's nomination has been praised by supporters of his pandemic stance, including Senator Rand Paul.