The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet on Thursday, following a contentious nomination process that divided lawmakers along party lines.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 52-48 to approve Kennedy, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the only Republican voting against his confirmation.

Elon Musk Called This Financial News 'Terrifying'

MORE NEWS: Pete Hegseth Warns Houthi Rebels of ‘Unrelenting’ Response to Attacking Ships [WATCH]

Close

Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic and environmental advocate, previously ran as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election before withdrawing and endorsing Trump.

His nomination was met with opposition from Senate Democrats, who criticized his past comments linking vaccines to autism—claims that have been widely rejected by health experts.

American Made Patriotic Apparel - Save 15% with Promo Code MERICA

Do you think President Trump will successfully negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from Objectivist.co, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

McConnell Stands Against Kennedy Over Vaccine Sance
McConnell, a survivor of childhood polio and a strong proponent of vaccines, cited his personal history as a reason for voting against Kennedy’s confirmation.

“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. 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,” McConnell stated after the vote.

MORE NEWS: Joy Reid’s Post-MSNBC Meltdown: America Is Racist, Donald Trump Voters Are Bigots [WATCH]

Kennedy’s confirmation followed two intense Senate hearings in January, where Democrats questioned his leadership of Children’s Health Defense, the organization he founded that has repeatedly challenged federal vaccine policies.

Despite opposition from Democrats, Republican senators rallied behind Kennedy, emphasizing his commitment to government transparency and reform in health policy.

During the hearings, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), initially expressed concerns over Kennedy’s history of questioning vaccine safety.

Close

However, Cassidy later supported the nomination after securing a series of commitments from Kennedy, including:

  • Quarterly hearings before the HELP Committee
  • Increased congressional oversight on vaccine safety boards
  • A 30-day notice and hearing requirement for any changes to vaccine safety reviews

“These commitments, and my expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again, is the basis of my support,” Cassidy said before the vote.

Kennedy has pledged to shift the focus of HHS towards preventative health measures, overhauling dietary guidelines, and addressing chronic diseases.

His agenda includes a focus on reducing Americans’ reliance on ultra-processed foods and increasing awareness of environmental factors affecting public health.

MORE NEWS: Marco Rubio Shuts Down CBS News Host, Crushes Her with These Three Words [WATCH]

“Our country is not going to be destroyed because we get the marginal tax rate wrong. It is going to be destroyed if we get this issue wrong,” Kennedy said, referencing rising chronic disease rates in America.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) swiftly condemned Kennedy’s confirmation, branding him as an “unqualified conspiracy theorist.”

In a statement, DNC Chair Ken Martin criticized Republicans for confirming Kennedy, claiming:

“RFK Jr. doesn’t care about keeping Americans healthy – in fact, he has a track record of spreading medical misinformation that can cost lives. Trump’s only idea for health care is to steal money going to kids and seniors to give tax cuts to billionaires.”

Following the Senate vote, Trump’s campaign team posted a statement on social media congratulating Kennedy, stating:

“Congratulations @RobertKennedyJr!”

MORE NEWS: USAID EXPOSED: Allegedly Funneled Millions to George Soros-Backed Activists [WATCH]

Kennedy’s confirmation came just one day after the Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in another 52-48 vote.

With Kennedy now officially leading HHS, his next steps will involve implementing Trump’s health policy agenda, which aims to reduce government bureaucracy, cut medical costs, and prioritize health over pharmaceutical industry interests.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.