Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, was confirmed as US Health Secretary on Thursday after overcoming congressional resistance with assurances that he would limit his role in vaccination policy. Following Kennedy’s swearing-in, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a commission to "Make America Healthy Again," aimed at investigating chronic illness and developing an action plan to combat childhood diseases. Kennedy, 71, an environmental lawyer and former independent presidential candidate, pledged to prioritise “radical transparency” and purge government officials with conflicts of interest. He has long questioned vaccine safety, a stance that made his confirmation contentious. The Senate vote was 52-48, with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell joining all Democrats in opposition. Kennedy was sworn in later on Thursday by US supreme court justice Neil Gorsuch. Despite concerns over his anti-vaccine advocacy, Kennedy secured confirmation by promising to uphold existing vaccine policies and honor decisions from the CDC’s expert advisory panel. He will now oversee agencies such as the FDA, CDC, and NIH, managing over $3 trillion in healthcare spending. His appointment aligns with Trump’s broader goal of reducing government size. Kennedy has vowed to eliminate employees at both the FDA and NIH, push for bans on certain food additives, and reform school nutrition programs. His political comeback follows his endorsement of Trump last August, which helped consolidate voter support ahead of the 2024 election.
