Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s disengagement as Secretary of Health and Human Services raises alarms as an Ebola outbreak spreads. Reports indicate he is often absent from critical meetings, leading to a leadership vacuum within the department, with many key positions unfilled.

• 01Kennedy has been described as disengaged, often scrolling on his phone during meetings.
• 02The Department of Health and Human Services lacks a permanent surgeon general and has many acting directors.
• 03Kennedy reportedly did not know about the firing of the FDA's top drug regulator until after it occurred.
• 04His management style has led to high staff turnover, with three spokespeople and two chiefs of staff in a short period.
• 05Experts warn that the current leadership vacuum could have dire consequences for public health.

The leadership vacuum in the Department of Health and Human Services could hinder effective responses to public health emergencies, such as the Ebola outbreak.