Senate confirms RFK Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, as health secretary

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptic and former presidential candidate who fled his family’s party and threw his “medical freedom” movement behind President Trump on Thursday confirmed by the Senate as the nation’s next health secretary. He is expected to be sworn into the White House by President Trump on Thursday afternoon.

Voting, 52 to 48, limited a remarkable increase for Mr. Kennedy and a curious VRI in American politics. He was confirmed by a Republican Senate without a single democratic vote in a chamber in which his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, all had office as Democrats.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a polio -surviving and the former Republican leader, voted no, the lonely Republican to oppose Mr. Kennedy. Mr. McConnell issued a burning statement explaining his vote.

“Individuals, parents and families have the right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance to prevent and treat illness,” it read partially. “But a list of human trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroded confidence in public health institutions does not give Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts. ”

Mr. Kennedy will now Led the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, a scattered agency with 13 operations departments, including some – Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – which he has called Corrupt.

These scientific agencies are already rolling from the attacks of directives coming from the Trump administration. NIH, targeting budget cuts, has just lost his No. 2 official who retired to avoid being pushed into a job he did not want, according to people who were familiar with his decision.

CDCs Weekly Scientific JournalReports of outbreaks and other health threats were produced were muted by orders banning the release of any public communication until it was reviewed by a presidential or appointed – delay of a bird flu report. Information was later sent, then deleted from the department’s website.

The question now: What will Mr. Kennedy do with his newly won power and platform? Mr. Kennedy has said he will tackle the chronic disease epidemic, free grocery stores of ultra -processed foods and eradicate conflicts of interest in federal agencies and the expert panels that advise them. He has also promised to “follow science” in pursuing research on vaccine security.

But he has offered few details. Some of Mr. Kennedy’s allies claim that he will be able to get more done if he focuses on less disputed issues such as chronic illness and the food supply – issues that can generate broad bipartisan support. But Mr. Kennedy’s allies in what they call the “vaccine security” movement, which its critics call the anti-vaccine movement, want to see him focus his energy there.

Mr. Kennedy’s agenda may soon be in greater focus. He agreed to give his first TV interview to Fox News host Laura Ingraham; The network said it would be broadcast on her show on Thursday night.

Like Mr. Trump is Mr. Kennedy an extremely divisive figure. His “Make America Healthy Again” movement has married to the far left and to the far right. But the mainstream democrats decrease him as a conspiracy theorist and science-legged and warn that his decades’ long efforts to make a mistake in vaccination will jeopardize the health of all Americans.

“A vote to confirm Mr. Kennedy is a vote to make America singer, ”said Senator Chuck Schumer, the democratic leader, moments before the vote.

Except for Mr. McConnell, became Republicans who were concerned about Mr. Kennedy’s view of vaccination – including Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor and chair of the Senate Health Committee – those to support his confirmation. Other equated the question of vaccines completely to emphasize Mr. Kennedy’s embrace of several Bipartisan agenda items, including the end of chronic disease epidemic and getting ultra -processed foods from grocery shelf.

“We have a generational opportunity to gather the greatest minds of science, medicine, industry and government to stop the chronic disease epidemic facing Americans,” said Senator Mike Crapo, Republican in Idaho and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Two of the industries that have been frequent targets for Mr. Kennedy, was quick to offer kind statements after he was confirmed.

Phrma, the trade association for the pharmaceutical industry, said it was eager to work with Mr. Kennedy about his plan to reduce levels of chronic illnesses – and their own plans to limit the ability of disseminations to raise drug prices.

Consumer Brands Association, representing producers of ultra -processed foods, issued a more pointed statement that reminded Mr. Kennedy that they are the country’s largest manufacturing employer and that they would like to see aspects of the status quo remain in place.

“The federal legislative agencies in HHS operate under a science and risk-based mandate, and it is critical that the framework remains under the new administration,” said Sarah Gallo, the group’s senior vice president of federal affairs.

Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccination were at the center of the Democrats’ struggle against him. He has said he favors both the measles vaccine and the polio vaccine, and would do nothing to prevent or deter people from taking them. But he is against vaccine mandates, even for school children, and when he was pushed, he refused to accept the ordinary scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism.

“Mr. Kennedy is pleased to say that he does not make recommendations about whether parents should vaccinate their children – he just asks questions and gives people choices, ”said Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat of the Finance Committee, Wednesday, after the Senate voted To move on Mr. Kennedy’s nomination.

“It’s a smooth tactic used by conspiracy theorists to dodge any real responsibility for their words and actions,” added Mr. Wyden, “And it’s absurd that comes from someone who is being confirmed for a job that is all about making recommendations.”

Senator Angus King, an independent of Maine, was more brief: “If this was a secret vote, this man would not get 20 votes.”

Republicans, even the troubled over Mr. Kennedy said he had assigned their concerns.

“I am still concerned about Mr. Kennedy’s view of vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, ”wrote Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republicans of Alaska, in a Long -term social media posts Wednesday.

But she added, “he has committed to me and my colleagues and promised to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and base vaccine recommendations on data -driven, evidence -based and medically healthy research.”

Christina Jewett contributed with reporting.