GOP-Led Senate Confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As HHS Secretary

On Thursday, the GOP-majority Senate approved Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary, concluding a contentious confirmation process focused on his vaccine views. The vote ended with a narrow margin of 52-48, with nearly all Republicans supporting him, except for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who, due to his experience with Polio, voted against Kennedy Jr. alongside all Democrats and the two independent senators aligned with them.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his lineage to former President John F. Kennedy and his father, Robert F. Kennedy, had previously campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 before switching to an independent run, citing issues with the nomination process. After withdrawing from the race, he endorsed Trump, promoting a health-focused campaign echoing Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan with "Make America Healthy Again."

In November, Trump appointed Kennedy Jr. to head HHS, emphasizing the need for protection from what he described as the deceptive practices of food and pharmaceutical industries. Trump praised Kennedy Jr. for his commitment to restoring scientific integrity and transparency within health agencies to combat chronic diseases.

Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and author, has been vocal about vaccine safety rather than outright opposition, promising during his hearings to divest from any financial interest in vaccine-related lawsuits. His confirmation was nearly derailed but moved forward after Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced his support following extensive discussions.

The Daily Wire reported that former Vice President Mike Pence's group, Advancing American Freedom, had lobbied against Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation due to his pro-abortion stances. Still, his alignment with Trump's policies on abortion seemed to alleviate these concerns.

The Senate also voted to end debate on Kennedy Jr.'s nomination and, shortly before, confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, again with McConnell as the lone Republican dissenter. 

Despite her reservations, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) confirmed her vote for Kennedy Jr., citing his assurances to work transparently with Congress. On the other side, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) used social media to express his strong opposition to Kennedy Jr., highlighting his appointment's risks to public health.

The Senate has confirmed 15 of Trump's Cabinet picks for his second term despite various Democratic strategies to delay proceedings. This week saw advancements in nominations like Kash Patel for FBI Director, with other key roles still pending full Senate votes.