In a vote of 52 to 48, one of Trump’s most notable nominees cleared the Senate and was sworn into office.
On Thursday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary.
RFK Jr. was one of Trump’s controversial nominees, with his varying views on vaccines and food safety recommendations playing a role in his confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate.
The Senate vote to confirm Kennedy was 52 to 48. All Democrats voted against him, with Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell as the lone Republican opposing vote. McConnell’s opposition stemmed largely from Kennedy’s stance on certain vaccinations.
McConnell said in a statement, “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.”
Republicans have largely embraced Kennedy’s plans for the agency to focus on chronic diseases. He is expected to fight obesity by eliminating certain chemicals in food and increase research efforts on chronic disease.
Some lawmakers are optimistic about Kennedy’s plans. “We’ve got to get into the business of making America healthy again,” said Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho.
Healthcare professionals are hesitant to accept Kennedy’s outlook. Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said, “It will be a disaster for public health. He has fixed, immutable, science-resistant beliefs. This country will suffer under his leadership.”
During Kennedy’s confirmation hearings, Democrats questioned him on his theory that vaccines lead to autism. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor, agreed to vote for Kennedy in exchange for a commitment to keep current federal vaccine recommendations.
Republican Senator Susan Collins opposes cuts to NIH grants, and said Kennedy promised to re-examine the Trump administration’s move to cut overhead payments in those grants.
Kennedy has called for a staffing overhaul at the NIH, FDA, and CDC – all organizations he will oversee as HHS Secretary. Last year, he said he would fire 600 employees at the NIH.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order creating a “MAHA commission” chaired by Kennedy. The commission has been tasked with forming a strategy within 180 days to improve children’s health.
Kennedy was sworn in on Thursday in the Oval Office by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch soon after his confirmation.
