Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially took office as Secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department on Thursday after a narrow Senate confirmation vote, placing him in charge of a $1.7 trillion budget that oversees vaccine policies, food safety regulations, and health insurance programs that impact nearly half of the U.S. population.
The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Kennedy, with nearly all Republicans backing former President Donald Trump’s nominee despite reservations about his controversial views on vaccines. Every Democrat opposed his confirmation.
The only Republican to break ranks was Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child. His opposition mirrored his stance against Trump’s previous nominees for Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence.
“I’m a survivor of childhood polio. In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world,” McConnell stated. “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.”
Shortly after taking office, Kennedy appeared on Fox News with Laura Ingraham and announced his intention to establish a more rigorous system to monitor vaccine side effects.
Republicans have largely embraced Kennedy’s approach to public health, particularly his focus on tackling chronic illnesses like obesity.
“We’ve got to get into the business of making America healthy again,” said Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who believes Kennedy will introduce a “fresh perspective” to the role.
During his swearing-in ceremony at the Oval Office, Kennedy was accompanied by his wife, other family members, and several members of Congress. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch administered the oath. Reflecting on his connection to the White House, Kennedy recalled visiting as a child in 1961, when his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was in office.
Trump announced that Kennedy would lead a new commission to study chronic diseases, an initiative Kennedy praised. He described Trump as a “pivotal historical figure” and expressed gratitude for his role in his life and career.
Kennedy, 71, has long been in the public eye due to his family legacy and personal tragedies. Over the years, he has cultivated a dedicated following through his outspoken views on food safety, chemicals, and vaccines—stances that have at times veered into extreme territory.
His influence grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic when he devoted much of his efforts to a nonprofit organization that filed lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers. He also leveraged social media to foster skepticism about vaccines and the government agencies responsible for promoting them.
Despite his history of questioning vaccine safety, Kennedy, with Trump’s endorsement, argued that he was in a unique position to restore trust in public health institutions like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., voiced optimism about Kennedy’s potential to reshape the health care system, saying he hoped Kennedy “goes wild” in curbing medical costs and improving overall public health.
However, before offering his support, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a physician and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sought assurances from Kennedy that he would not alter existing vaccine recommendations.
During his confirmation hearings, Senate Democrats repeatedly challenged Kennedy to disavow the long-debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. Some legislators also raised concerns about whether Kennedy could personally profit from altering vaccine policies or weakening legal protections for pharmaceutical companies that manufacture vaccines.
Financial disclosures revealed that Kennedy earned more than $850,000 last year through a referral arrangement with a law firm that has sued the manufacturers of Gardasil, a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer. To address potential conflicts of interest, Kennedy pledged that if confirmed, he would redirect the earnings from this arrangement to his son.
Kennedy assumes leadership of HHS amid a sweeping federal restructuring led by billionaire Elon Musk. This overhaul has resulted in the suspension—at least temporarily—of billions of dollars in public health funding, leaving thousands of federal employees uncertain about their job security.
On Friday, the NIH announced that it would limit billions of dollars allocated to medical research, particularly in areas such as cancer and Alzheimer’s treatment.
Kennedy has also called for a major shake-up within the NIH, FDA, and CDC. Last year, he vowed to terminate 600 employees at the NIH, which serves as the nation’s largest financial supporter of biomedical research.
In his Fox News interview, Kennedy reiterated his plans to overhaul staffing at HHS and its affiliated agencies, targeting officials responsible for what he views as poor decisions regarding nutrition guidelines and Alzheimer’s treatments.
“I have a list in my head,” Kennedy said, referring to potential dismissals within the agency.