Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of President Donald Trump’s most contentious cabinet selections, has officially taken on the role of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.
The former presidential candidate now oversees crucial health agencies with a workforce of approximately 80,000 employees and a budget exceeding $1 trillion.
His appointment sparked bipartisan concerns, particularly over his controversial health claims and vaccine skepticism.
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Kennedy in a 52-48 vote, with no Democratic support.
Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to oppose his nomination.
President Trump personally administered the oath of office in the Oval Office, marking another victory in his sweeping government overhaul.
As the Senate works long hours to confirm Trump’s remaining nominees, lawmakers also approved Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture in a 72-28 vote. Kennedy’s confirmation follows that of Tulsi Gabbard, who was narrowly approved as Director of National Intelligence earlier in the week.
Kennedy will now lead major health institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. His role also extends to overseeing food safety, pharmaceuticals, public health, and vaccinations.
A former independent presidential candidate in 2024, Kennedy dropped out to endorse Trump. His appointment raised concerns among Republicans and Democrats alike, particularly regarding his past statements on immunizations and affiliations with groups spreading unverified health claims.
Kennedy, founder of the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, has been criticized for questioning vaccine safety and linking immunizations to autism—claims widely debunked by health experts. Though he denies being anti-vaccine, he maintains that stricter safety studies are necessary.
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy faced tough questioning about his knowledge of the healthcare system and his stance on abortion. While previously expressing support for abortion rights, he aligned with Trump’s position that access to abortion should be decided by individual states. His shift drew criticism from Democrats, who accused him of abandoning his pro-choice stance to secure the nomination.
Kennedy’s confirmation faced resistance, with protests disrupting one of his hearings. However, he also received applause when pledging to “make America healthy again,” echoing a Trump administration slogan.
Notably, Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican and physician, initially expressed reservations about Kennedy’s vaccine views but ultimately voted for his confirmation, stating his expectation that Kennedy would improve national health policies. In contrast, McConnell, a polio survivor and outspoken critic, voted against him, warning that Kennedy’s history of promoting conspiracy theories undermines trust in public health institutions.
Following Kennedy’s confirmation, the Senate is moving forward with other key Trump nominees, including Howard Lutnick for Secretary of Commerce and Kash Patel for FBI Director. Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for Education Secretary, also faced her confirmation hearing on Thursday.
