Kennedy inherits significant responsibilities, overseeing major health agencies such as the CDC, FDA, and NIH, all under a trillion-dollar budget. His past rhetoric on vaccination safety and opposition to specific health policies raised questions from bipartisan lawmakers during his confirmation hearings. Despite pushback, including a vocal protest from Caroline Kennedy, the appointment moves forward as the Senate races to finalize President Trump’s remaining cabinet nominees, including anticipated votes for pivotal roles like the Secretary of Commerce and FBI leadership in the coming days.