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Summary of Bethany Kozma’s Background and New Role at HHS
This article details the controversial background of Bethany Kozma and her recent appointment as director of the HHS Office of Global Affairs under a second Trump governance. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Past Roles: Kozma previously served as a senior advisor for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at USAID, eventually becoming deputy chief of staff.
* Controversial Views: She has a history of expressing views considered prejudiced by many, particularly regarding reproductive rights and transgender issues.
* In 2018, she referred to the U.S. as “pro-life” during a U.N. meeting, despite Roe v. Wade still being in effect.
* Democratic senators called for her removal from USAID in 2020, citing prejudiced statements against trans people.
* Project 2025 Involvement: Kozma was heavily involved in Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation plan for a new Republican administration. Training videos show her advocating for:
* Eradicating “climate change” references.
* Dismissing climate change concerns as “population control” efforts.
* Denouncing gender-affirming care and the idea of gender fluidity as “evil.”
* Prioritizing changes in language surrounding these policies.
* Recent U.N. Speech: At a recent U.N. event commemorating the Beijing Declaration, she emphasized “biological reality” and the idea that humans are created “male and female.”
* Support from the Right: roger Severino of The Heritage Foundation praises Kozma as a champion of protecting children from “gender ideology” and believes she will effectively counter “left-wing pseudoscience” from global health bodies.
* New Role & Context: Kozma is now director of the HHS Office of Global Affairs during a period of meaningful change in global health, traditionally focused on interactions with the World Health Organization.
In essence, the article paints a picture of a highly ideological appointee taking a key position in global health policy, with a clear agenda to reshape the conversation around issues like climate change, gender identity, and reproductive rights.