INSIDER'S DROP —
INSIDER'S DROP —
Edward Hudgens shares first-hand experiences and newsworthy insights highlighting the real-world challenges and paths forward toward our best future, with a focus on Policies on AI/AGI, longevity, including governance worldwide; Exponential Technology Policies; Futurizing Education, and Cultural trends and attitudes impacting humanity’s tech future.
US Department of Health & Human Services
“Jim O’Neill confirmation”
June 2025
This month, after several Senate confirmation hearings, Jim O’Neill has been sworn in as Number Two at the Department of Health and Human Services. This department oversees the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, Medicare, Medicaid, and much more.
Jim’s ascent is an opportunity to mainstream an understanding that aging, with its many mental and physical afflictions, need not be our fate.
Jim also served at HHS from 2002 to 2008, so he knows the ins and outs of this government department of 62,000 employees. But most important, he served for years as CEO of the SENS Research Foundation. As most friends of Humanity Plus know, SENS was the premiere group developing, as its initials stand for, Strategies for Engineering Negligible Senescence. Jim understands that rather than simply developing treatments for cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other ravages of aging once they afflict us, it is best to attack aging itself.
But science and technology are not enough. We need to raise the consciousness of the public and policymakers so they understand that we each can have truly long, vibrant lives if we make slowing or stopping aging a top goal. Jim in his perch at HHS, with the help of the longevity community, to meet this challenge!
LONGEVITY POLICIES
“Braining COVID Vaccines and Longevity”
June 2025
As countries around the world begin to develop policies for longevity, it’s clear that we’re at a pivotal moment in healthcare. If we’re to move from “sickcare” to healthspan and longevity, we must rethink and rewire the thinking processes of both the public and policymakers.
First, longevity education efforts should be elevated above political and partisan differences as much as possible. This is a universal challenge that transcends borders and ideologies.
Second, open and honest discussions are essential, with no room for censorship or dogma. Global collaboration requires transparency and an exchange of ideas that welcomes all perspectives.
Third, we must help public and policymakers understand that the discoveries and technologies applied to longevity are experimental, evolving, and often uncertain. But rather than being deterred by uncertainty, this should inspire action. Proaction—trying, failing, learning, and trying again—will bring us closer to a future where the ailments that have always plagued humanity can be vanquished.
Let’s cultivate futurist minds and technologies, not just for our generation but for generations to come. The future of longevity is global, and it’s time to build it together.
READ MORE ON BLOG. Longer piece focusing on What is happening in Washington, DC with “Braining COVID Vaccines and Longevity” and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary insider’s view featured on the BLOG!