RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary
Vote falls mostly along party lines as Kennedy pledges to "Make America Healthy Again" and critics dismiss RFK as “wildly unqualified conspiracy theorist."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary in a 52–48 Senate vote. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, overcame unanimous Democratic opposition and a “no” vote from Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), a polio survivor. Supporters praise Kennedy’s promise to fight obesity, chronic disease, and streamline costs under his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Critics, however, worry that his skepticism toward vaccines and other conventional health policies could undermine public confidence and disrupt well-established practices.
Now leading the nation’s largest health agency, Kennedy says he plans to reevaluate vaccine safety, push for stricter food regulations, and work within the Trump administration’s approach to abortion and budget cuts—a balancing act many will be watching closely. (WSJ)
The U.S. spends a total of $4.9 trillion on healthcare, with 85% of those funds directed at managing largely preventable conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.