On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy as the new Secretary of Health, placing a prominent 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 selection by President Donald Trump was both surprising and anticipated. As a member of the well-known American political family and a vocal anti-vaccine activist, Kennedy entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat before switching to run as an independent. He later suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump in August, which many viewed as a potential arrangement for a Cabinet position, although Kennedy denied any such agreement.
Kennedy has positioned himself as a uniquely qualified candidate to tackle the “chronic disease epidemic” and reform U.S. health policy. His “Make America Healthy Again” initiative merges MAGA supporters’ skepticism of U.S. health institutions with controversial misinformation about health science.
Kennedy’s nomination sparked outrage among Democrats and raised concerns among some Republicans. During his Senate committee hearings in late January, he faced intense scrutiny and struggled to answer fundamental questions regarding Medicaid and Medicare, critical programs for millions of Americans. His attempts to distance himself from his anti-vaccine views were met with skepticism, and he refused to acknowledge that vaccines do not cause autism.
Kennedy’s previously strong support for abortion rights also came under fire during the hearings. When questioned about his apparent shift on the issue, he sought to reassure Republicans by stating, “I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy,” and indicated he would uphold Trump’s policies if confirmed.
Despite initial uncertainty surrounding his confirmation, Kennedy ultimately secured enough votes to take office after narrowly passing the 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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