Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, was on Capitol Hill in early January to meet with senators.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears likely to soon be taking the helm as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Senate Finance committee voted along party lines, 14-13, to favorably report his nomination to the full Senate.
A vote to confirm him likely will happen in the coming days or perhaps next week.
President Trump has so far succeeded in installing most of his preferred cabinet picks despite slim Congressional majorities. Kennedy was one of his most contentious nominees.
Kennedy is a very unusual choice to run the nation’s health agencies, which include Medicare, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes for Health, and more. A scion of the famous Democratic family, Kennedy spent years as an environmental advocate before pivoting to anti-vaccine work. That work built his reputation and fortune.
Senator Bill Cassidy, R.-La., cast a key vote in favor of Kennedy. A physician, Cassidy spoke in personal terms during hearings last week about his experiences with patients who suffered from lifelong health consequences because they were unvaccinated. He indicated on Thursday he was “struggling” with the decision, but ultimately voted in Kennedy’s favor.
