The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday as the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump, granting him oversight of a staggering $1.7 trillion federal budget that encompasses vaccine policies, food safety, and health insurance programs serving nearly half of the U.S. population. Despite some reservations among Republicans regarding Kennedy’s skepticism about vaccines, the party largely unified to support his confirmation with a vote of 52-48. All Democratic senators opposed Kennedy’s appointment.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is a polio survivor, was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy. He expressed his concerns in a statement, emphasizing the life-saving impact of vaccines throughout his lifetime and stating, “I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles.” In contrast, other Republican senators expressed their support for Kennedy’s policies, indicating a shift in focus toward addressing chronic health issues like obesity.
Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho noted the need to “make America healthy again” and highlighted the fresh perspective Kennedy could bring to the Department of Health and Human Services. At 71, Kennedy, a prominent figure in the conversation around vaccines and public health, has gained significant attention due to his family’s legacy and personal views on various health-related topics. His stance gained even more traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, as he led a nonprofit organization that litigated against vaccine manufacturers and utilized social media to spread skepticism regarding vaccines and the agencies that administer them.
With Trump’s endorsement, Kennedy believes he is uniquely suited to restore confidence in public health agencies, including the FDA, CDC, and NIH. Last week, Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina expressed hopes that Kennedy would take bold actions to reduce healthcare costs and enhance the health of Americans. Prior to securing support, some senators, such as Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, sought assurances that Kennedy would maintain the existing vaccine recommendations in place.
During his confirmation hearings, Democratic senators pressed Kennedy to renounce the discredited belief that vaccines could lead to autism. Concerns were also raised about the potential for Kennedy to financially gain from alterations to vaccine guidelines or proposals that might weaken legal protections for vaccine manufacturers. In 2022, Kennedy reportedly made over $850,000 from a referral arrangement with a law firm that had pursued legal action against the manufacturers of Gardasil, a vaccine for human papillomavirus. Should he be confirmed, Kennedy has pledged to redirect any fees to his son to alleviate potential conflicts of interest.
Kennedy’s appointment comes amid significant changes in the federal government led by billionaire Elon Musk. These developments have temporarily stalled billions in taxpayer-funded public health initiatives and generated uncertainty for numerous federal employees regarding their job security. On Friday, the NIH announced it would be restricting billions in medical research funds distributed to universities, particularly those working on treatments for serious health conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, Kennedy has called for significant staffing reorganizations at major health agencies, having previously suggested the dismissal of 600 NIH employees, highlighting the sweeping changes he might undertake in this new role.
