Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as health secretary

Defying many critics, the Senate narrowly voted this morning to install Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation’s top health official.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services. The Senate voted to confirm him Thursday.

The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Kennedy's confirmation. All of the Senate Democrats voted against him. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former Senate majority leader, was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation.

A longtime critic of many federal health positions, Kennedy will serve as the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services. The health department includes agencies touching the lives of virtually all Americans, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other health agencies.

Many healthcare leaders, including two former HHS secretaries, blasted President Trump’s choice of Kennedy as "dangerous." They point to Kennedy’s long record of skepticism of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Political analysts said Kennedy was one of the most controversial nominees, even among Trump’s unconventional cabinet picks, and analysts wondered if he’d be confirmed.

Kennedy cleared a key hurdle when the Senate Finance Committee approved his nomination last week, albeit by only one vote.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and a physician, voted for Kennedy despite concerns over his vaccine stance, saying he will meet regularly with Kennedy. Cassidy said that he secured commitments that Kennedy won’t make drastic changes in vaccine reviews without significant notice and the backing of the scientific community.

Republicans backing Kennedy lauded his focus on chronic diseases, processed foods and his stated desires for reforms at HHS.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, said on X Wednesday that she would support Kennedy’s confirmation “despite concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies.”

“He has made numerous commitments to me and my colleagues, promising to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and to base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research. These commitments are important to me and, on balance, provide assurance for my vote,” Murkowski said.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, said earlier this week that she’d vote for Kennedy, making his confirmation more likely.

Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas and one of four doctors serving in the Senate, wrote an op-ed for The Hill arguing that Kennedy is the right leader to improve the nation’s health.

“Kennedy understands that, to prevent disease, we must challenge old assumptions. He will shift HHS’ focus from managing illness to promoting health. He has launched a health revolution,” Marshall wrote.

In hearings before the Senate committees on finance and health, Kennedy said he isn’t against vaccines and supports the current childhood schedule.

Democrats noted Kennedy’s long record questioning the safety of vaccines and weren’t satisfied with Kennedy’s answers about how his pledges contrast with his repeated skepticism and spreading false claims linking vaccines to autism. Even Cassidy demonstrated his frustration when Kennedy wouldn’t offer a clear and unambiguous statement regarding the safety of vaccines.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, chided Kennedy over repeated statements linking vaccines to autism and his unwillingness to publicly correct those past statements.

“The studies are there,” Sanders said last week at the Senate health hearing. “Your job was to have looked at those studies as an applicant for this job.”

Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, one of Kennedy’s most vocal critics, said Kennedy lacks the qualifications. “He is singularly unfit to serve as HHS Secretary,” Wyden said at last week’s Senate Finance Committee hearing.

“Mr. Kennedy also failed, on several occasions, to show a basic understanding of the Medicare and Medicaid programs he would be tasked with overseeing,” Wyden said last week. “Colleagues, that alone should be disqualifying.”

Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told Chief Healthcare Executive® in a recent interview that Kennedy shouldn’t be leading the health department.

“We do not believe that Mr. Kennedy is qualified to be HHS secretary, and do not believe that he should have that job under any circumstances,” Benjamin said.

Kennedy also overcame some conservative resistance to Kennedy’s past support of abortion rights, which prompted former Vice President Mike Pence to speak out against his confirmation. During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy said on multiple occasions, “Every abortion is a tragedy.”