Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed as Trump's Health Secretary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed Thursday by the U.S. Senate as President Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services secretary.

Why It Matters

President Trump's decision to appoint Kennedy as his nominee for secretary of HHS had raised concerns for several reasons, particularly his views on vaccines. Kennedy has clarified that he is not opposed to all vaccines but has been critical of their safety.

Kennedy was also predicted to face potential confirmation challenges due to accusations of voter fraud in New York and his stance on abortion.

His confirmation required a simple majority in the Senate, meaning he could only be blocked if all Democrats and three Republicans voted against him.

What To Know

Kennedy, a former Democrat, was approved by a 52-48 vote.

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote "no" for Kennedy's confirmation. McConnell, who is serving his seventh term and has not yet disclosed plans to run for reelection, also broke with Trump in voting "no" for both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

In a press conference on Wednesday, following the vote on Gabbard, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Trump administration is "greatly disappointed in any Republican who chooses willfully to vote against the President's exceptionally qualified cabinet nominees and picks to lead his America First nomination."

"We expect all Republicans to vote, to remain tough and strong, vote for President Trump's nominees so we can get to work and continue to work very hard to implement the President's agenda," Leavitt said.

As the nation's health secretary, Kennedy will oversee $1.7 trillion in spending on vaccines, food safety, and health insurance programs that serve nearly half the population. Kennedy will oversee 18 federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A prominent lawyer and outspoken vaccine critic, Kennedy has drawn both support and controversy.

At 71, Kennedy has been in the national spotlight since childhood due to his famous lineage and family tragedies. Over the years, he has cultivated a substantial following with his populist—and at times extreme—views on food, chemicals, and vaccines.

Kennedy was questioned by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during his confirmation hearing about his opposition to childhood vaccinations, highlighting infant onesies with anti-vax slogans sold by Children's Health Defense, a company founded by the now Health and Human Services secretary.

Kennedy responded that he had "no power over the organization" and that he had resigned. When Sanders asked Kennedy specifically if he supported the onesies, the potential health secretary laughed and responded that he was "supportive of vaccines."

During Kennedy's testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, he was also pressed on whether he would make reductions to Medicaid as the Secretary of Human and Health Services.

Kennedy's responses were largely unclear, with the former presidential candidate saying that any changes to the Medicaid system would require a vote from Congress. Kennedy also indicated that reductions or modifications would be considered if they enhanced the program.

More than 79 million Americans rely on Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

What People Are Saying

Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, on X: "RFK Jr CONFIRMED!!!! Let's go MAHA

"Promises made promises kept. Yesterday @TulsiGabbard today @RobertKennedyJr next up Kash. Let's go. Team America!"

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on X: "We are going to Make America Healthy Again!"

Merith Basey, the executive director of Patients for Affordable Drugs, sent a statement to Newsweek: "Secretary Kennedy has a critical opportunity – and responsibility – to build on existing measures to rein in Big Pharma's price-gouging and lower drug costs for patients. We are ready to work with him to ensure Medicare drug price negotiations continue, out-of-pocket costs are reduced, and competition in the marketplace is increased through reforms to end abusive pharmaceutical monopolies that harm patients.

"But make no mistake: patients fought hard to secure the 2022 prescription drug law, and we will fiercely oppose any efforts to weaken it."

Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy sent a statement to Newsweek: "I am thrilled that the Senate officially confirmed my friend Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"There is a healthcare revolution going on in this country. People's eyes have been opened to the rampant cronyism and overregulation that have destroyed our healthcare system...I know RFK is committed to the core principles laid out in that document, which provides a comprehensive roadmap to lowering costs and putting American patients back in the driver's seat."

Senator Mitch McConnell in a statement following the vote: "I'm a survivor of childhood polio... 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."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on the floor prior to the RFK vote: "By now it's beyond clear that Mr. Kennedy is not remotely qualified to become the next secretary of HHS. In, Mr. Kennedy may be one of the least qualified people that Donald Trump could have chosen for the job."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the Senate hearing: "Should I be so privileged as to be confirmed, we will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods. We will scrutinize the chemical additives in our food supply. We will remove financial conflicts of interest from our agencies. We will create an honest, unbiased, gold standard science at HHS, accountable to the president, to Congress, and to the American people. We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to good health."

What's Next

Trump previously said he wants to significantly cut down government spending. Republicans have also proposed rolling back the Affordable Care Act expansion for Medicaid, which allowed an additional 20 million Americans to enroll in health insurance.

With Trump's backing, Kennedy has said he will be "uniquely positioned" to revive trust in those public health agencies.