Robert F Kennedy Jr, certainly one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial cupboard picks, has been sworn in as the subsequent US Well being and Human Companies Secretary.
The previous presidential candidate will now oversee key well being businesses with about 80,000 workers and a trillion-dollar funds. Lawmakers on either side of the aisle had questioned his baseless well being claims and vaccine scepticism.
On Thursday, Kennedy was confirmed by a 52-48 vote. No Democrats backed him. Former Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote towards Kennedy.
Trump swore Kennedy in himself within the Oval Workplace, marking one other win for the president as he seeks to quickly overhaul virtually each degree of presidency.
The Senate is placing in late nights and early mornings as they hurry to spherical out the president’s cupboard by confirming his remaining nominees. Lawmakers additionally accepted Brooke Rollins as head of the Division of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28.
Kennedy is the second controversial cupboard decide to be confirmed this week after Tulsi Gabbard, one other contested decide, was confirmed as director of Nationwide Intelligence in a slender Senate vote on Wednesday.
He’ll now oversee businesses such because the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA), the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) and the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies.
Kennedy may also be charged with overseeing the US well being business which incorporates meals security, prescription drugs, public well being and vaccinations. He ran for the White Home himself in 2024 as an impartial, however dropped out and backed Trump.
The president’s choice to faucet Kennedy to guide the federal well being company drew scepticism from a number of Republicans. Many questioned Kennedy’s previous feedback on immunisations, his ties to teams making unsubstantiated well being claims and his views on abortion.
Kennedy is the founding father of the anti-vaccine group Kids’s Well being Protection, which gained prominence within the US for casting doubt on the security and efficacy of childhood vaccinations and making the discredited declare that the pictures are linked to autism.
Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F Kennedy, has denied that he’s anti-vaccination, mentioning his personal youngsters are immunised. He insisted throughout his affirmation hearings that he merely helps extra stringent research and security exams for injections.
Some Republicans have praised Kennedy for his criticism over using meals components and push to curb huge pharma.
Through the hearings, lawmakers additionally grilled Kennedy on his promotion of well being misinformation and data of the US healthcare system.
He was requested to elucidate his stance on abortion, as he beforehand indicated that he was in favour of abortion rights. He responded by telling lawmakers he agreed with Trump that entry to abortion needs to be managed by particular person states and that “each abortion is a tragedy”.
The alternate drew scrutiny from Democrats who accused Kennedy of “promoting out” his pro-choice values as a way to safe President Trump’s nomination.
One in every of his hearings was interrupted by shouting protesters. However he additionally obtained loud applause when promising to make America wholesome once more, a slogan utilized by Trump’s administration.
Forward of the listening to, Caroline Kennedy – the cousin of Robert F Kennedy Jr – urged US senators to reject him as the subsequent well being and human companies secretary. She mentioned Kennedy’s views on vaccines disqualify him from the position of being certainly one of America’s main well being policymakers.
It wasn’t sufficient to dissuade a number of Republicans who beforehand withheld their help from Kennedy however wound up approving his nomination throughout Thursday’s vote.
Many eyes have been on Louisiana Senator Invoice Cassidy, a Republican, who chairs the Senate Well being Committee.
Cassidy, a physician, beforehand indicated that he was scuffling with Kennedy’s stance on vaccines. He voted to substantiate Kennedy.
“We have to make America wholesome once more, and it’s my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will get this carried out,” Cassidy posted on X after the vote.
Others carefully watched McConnell, a Kennedy critic and polio survivor. McConnell had warned Kennedy to not undermine the polio vaccine.
He voted towards affirmation.
“People, mother and father, and households have a proper to push for a more healthy nation and demand the absolute best scientific steerage on stopping and treating sickness,” McConnell mentioned in an announcement. “However a file of trafficking in harmful conspiracy theories and eroding belief in public well being establishments doesn’t entitle Mr. Kennedy to guide these necessary efforts.”
The Senate continues transferring ahead with Trump’s nominees. After confirming Kennedy, lawmakers are anticipated to advance the nomination of Howard Lutnick as the subsequent Secretary of Commerce.
This tees up the ultimate vote for his affirmation to happen by the tip of the week.
Lawmakers are additionally anticipated to take up the nomination of Kash Patel, Trump’s controversial selection to guide the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after the decide obtained approval from a key committee on Thursday.
Trump’s decide to move the training division, Linda McMahon had her affirmation listening to on Thursday as effectively.
