On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health, placing a well-known anti-vaccine advocate at the helm of the nation’s public health policy.
Kennedy’s confirmation came with a narrow 52-48 vote. Notably, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the sole Republican to oppose Kennedy’s confirmation, joining Democrats in their dissent.
Kennedy’s appointment was both surprising and anticipated, as President Donald Trump selected him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. A member of the prominent Kennedy political family, he gained notoriety as an anti-vaccine activist and initially entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat before switching to run as an independent. In August, he suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump, which many interpreted as a potential arrangement for a Cabinet position, although Kennedy denied any such agreement.
Kennedy presented himself as the ideal candidate to tackle the “chronic disease epidemic” and reform U.S. health policy. His “Make America Healthy Again” initiative aimed to merge MAGA supporters’ skepticism of U.S. health institutions with controversial misinformation about health science.
His nomination sparked significant backlash from Democrats and raised concerns among some Republicans. During his Senate committee hearings in late January, Kennedy struggled to answer fundamental questions regarding Medicaid and Medicare, two essential programs for millions of Americans. His attempts to distance himself from his anti-vaccine views were met with skepticism, and he notably refused to concede that vaccines do not cause autism.
Kennedy’s evolving stance on abortion rights also drew scrutiny during his hearings. Once a strong advocate for abortion rights, he faced questions about his apparent shift. In response to concerns from Republicans, he stated, “I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy,” and indicated he would support Trump’s policies on the matter if confirmed.
Despite initial doubts regarding his confirmation, Kennedy ultimately secured enough support to be approved after a close committee vote.
As Secretary of Health, Kennedy will oversee a $1.7 trillion federal agency, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health, among other key organizations.
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