Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially taken office as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services after being sworn in on Thursday. The appointment comes following a contentious 52-48 Senate vote, making him one of President Donald Trump's most debated cabinet selections. With an extensive remit overseeing key health agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and NIH, Kennedy's controversial history concerning vaccination skepticism has sparked bipartisan criticism.
No Democrats supported his nomination, while former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy. Several Republicans, including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, initially hesitated to support Kennedy, given his past remarks on vaccinations. However, Cassidy ultimately backed him, stating, "We need to make America healthy again, and it is my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will get this done."
Kennedy's confirmation is part of Trump's plan to quickly reorganize the cabinet. Alongside Kennedy, Brooke Rollins was confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture with a broader bipartisan support of 72-28. The Oval Office ceremony underscored Kennedy's position as the second controversial appointment of the week, following the introduction of Tulsi Gabbard as the director of National Intelligence earlier.
Kennedy has previously expressed concerns regarding food safety and corporate pharmaceutical practices, which have garnered some praise from certain GOP members. However, his history with anti-vaccine advocacy, particularly through his involvement with the Children's Health Defense organization, looms large. During the confirmation process, he attempted to distance himself from being labeled anti-vaccine, emphasizing that he supports rigorous testing and safety studies.
The hearings were punctuated by protests, demonstrating the public's division over Kennedy’s views. Caroline Kennedy, his cousin, even urged senators to reject him, citing his stance on vaccines as a disqualifying factor for public health policymaking. Lawmakers questioned Kennedy on a breadth of issues, especially his stance on abortion, complicating his nomination further as he sought to align himself with Trump’s policies.
As lawmakers continue to finalize the administration's cabinet appointments, the Senate is poised to consider the nominations of Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce, Kash Patel for the FBI, and Kelly Loeffler as an Administrator for Small Business. The intense scrutiny surrounding Kennedy’s appointment may signal ongoing challenges ahead in addressing public health issues across the U.S.
