Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed to Lead $2 Trillion Health and Human Services Department

Washington, D.C. – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as the 26th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), assuming control of the nearly $2 trillion agency. His appointment, made by President Donald Trump, has drawn significant attention and concern from the scientific and public health communities due given Kennedy's past statements and views on vaccines and public health policy.

Kennedy was sworn into office in the Oval Office by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch. Immediately following the ceremony, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the "President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission," with Secretary Kennedy by his side. The new Secretary stated, "Thank you, President Trump, for your leadership, your confidence in me, and your deep concern for the health of the American people."

As HHS Secretary, Kennedy will oversee critical agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These divisions are responsible for a wide array of health and human services, as well as life-saving research. His role gives him significant influence over federal health policy, research funding, and regulatory oversight.

The appointment has been met with widespread apprehension among medical and scientific experts. Critics point to Kennedy's long history of promoting debunked claims regarding vaccine safety and his leadership of Children's Health Defense, an organization known for spreading vaccine misinformation. Many fear his leadership could undermine trust in public health institutions and impact evidence-based scientific research.

During his confirmation process and in previous statements, Kennedy indicated intentions to "reorganize" federal health agencies and shift research priorities. He has previously expressed a desire to focus on chronic diseases and has been quoted as saying he would support a review of vaccine safety data with a view to market removal of those he finds unsafe. While the tweet content suggests a direct cancellation of cancer vaccine and all mRNA vaccine research, official announcements from his office have not confirmed such specific actions, though concerns about potential shifts in research focus remain.

Experts, including Dr. Krishanthi Subramaniam of the University of Liverpool, warned that Kennedy's appointment "may usher in a heightened period of vaccine hesitancy in the United States." Similarly, Professor Simon Wessely, Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College London, expressed profound dismay, stating, "They deserve better, much better, than this." The potential impact on global health initiatives, including those addressing infectious diseases, is also a significant concern.