The US Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday, following a closely contested vote, Al Jazeera reports.
The nomination, put forth by President Donald Trump, generated significant debate due to Kennedy’s past statements and views on health-related topics.
The vote concluded with 52 senators in favor and 48 opposed. Support for Kennedy’s confirmation was primarily along party lines, with all affirmative votes cast by Republicans. Democrats and Independents largely opposed the nomination.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a polio survivor and former Senate leader, was a notable Republican dissenter. McConnell previously cautioned against nominees who might “undermine public confidence in proven cures.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also voiced concerns, describing Kennedy’s potential leadership of HHS as “dangerous” during the lead-up to the vote.
Republicans currently hold a majority of 53 seats in the Senate. To date, President Trump’s nominees for high-level government positions have generally been confirmed, despite occasional controversies. These confirmations include Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, the latter confirmed after a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance.
Kennedy’s nomination process was marked by scrutiny. An open letter from his cousin, former US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, and concerns raised by Democrats highlighted his past vaccine skepticism and lack of direct medical experience. While Kennedy said during his confirmation hearings that his children were vaccinated, he has publicly shared unsubstantiated theories, including associations between vaccines and autism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made claims about the virus’s potential targeting of specific groups.
In June 2019, Kennedy visited Samoa before a measles outbreak that resulted in numerous deaths. While Kennedy has denied that the trip was specifically related to vaccines, a social media post from his visit showed him alongside a vaccine skeptic, accompanied by the hashtag “investigate before you vaccinate.” Health officials in Samoa have since suggested that Kennedy’s visit contributed to skepticism surrounding vaccine efficacy.
Prior to his nomination, Kennedy had entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat before declaring himself an independent candidate in October 2023. He later suspended his campaign and endorsed President Trump, who has stated his support for Kennedy’s involvement in health policy. Kennedy then campaigned with Trump, advocating for “Make America Healthy Again.” Republican lawmakers largely dismissed concerns regarding Kennedy’s nomination leading up to the vote.
