Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially been sworn in as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. The former presidential candidate, known for his polarizing views, is now responsible for more than 80,000 employees and the management of a trillion-dollar budget concerning public health. The Senate confirmed Kennedy's nomination with a tight 52-48 vote, with no Democrats supporting him and only one Republican, Mitch McConnell, opposing his appointment.
Kennedy’s arrival in the cabinet aligns with President Trump’s effort to reshape the federal government, with the Senate actively working to finalize the president's appointees. In addition to Kennedy, Brooke Rollins was confirmed to lead the Department of Agriculture, receiving a vote of 72-28.
His confirmation comes after a week that saw another contentious nominee, Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed as the director of National Intelligence. Kennedy will oversee key health bureaus, including the CDC, FDA, NIH, and CMS, and is tasked with managing the complex US healthcare landscape encompassing food safety and vaccinations.
Having previously campaigned as an independent in the 2024 presidential race before stepping back to support Trump, Kennedy's selection has been greeted with skepticism. Concerns revolve around his previous statements regarding vaccines and unsubstantiated health claims, casting doubt among even some Republicans about his fitness for the role.
Kennedy is known as the founder of Children's Health Defense, a group that has been prominent for promoting skepticism about vaccine safety and making controversial assertions, including discredited links to autism. Despite such criticisms, Kennedy asserts that he is not against vaccines and promotes increased scrutiny over their safety and testing protocols.
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy faced rigorous questioning about his health misinformation and his views on abortion; he stated that abortion rights should be regulated by individual states but referred to each instance as a tragedy. This stance led critics to accuse him of abandoning his previous pro-choice advocacy to gain Trump's nomination.
Kennedy’s confirmation hearings were marked by vocal protests, yet he also received commendations for his commitment to fostering health improvements in America, aligning with Trump's previous health promises. In a notable family angle, Caroline Kennedy, his cousin, called for senators to block his confirmation, citing his vaccine views as grounds for disqualification.
The upcoming days in the Senate may hold more significant developments as lawmakers prepare to advance additional nominations, including Howard Lutnick for Secretary of Commerce, Kash Patel for the FBI, and Kelly Loeffler for the Small Business Administration. As the Administration seeks to finalize these appointments quickly, the scrutiny surrounding RFK Jr. and his approach to public health will likely remain in the spotlight.
