RFK Jr. confirmed as health secretary—Big Pharma just spit out its coffee

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as the secretary of Health and Human Services following a contentious Senate debate focused on his vaccine skepticism. On Thursday, the Senate endorsed his appointment with a 52-48 vote, which largely followed party lines but witnessed notable dissent from Sen. Mitch McConnell, who joined Democrats in opposition, according to Fox5DC.

Kennedy’s confirmation by the Senate marks a key victory for the Trump administration but arrives amidst concerns about his anti-vaccine views. Throughout his Senate hearings, Kennedy’s numerous statements questioning vaccine safety became major discussion points; notably, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who initially had reservations, clarified that Kennedy had pledged to support evidence-based vaccine research and would not deter vaccination efforts, strengthening her support for his nomination, reported the New York Post.

Despite Kennedy’s controversial history with vaccines, Fox5DC reports that he has persistently maintained he is not anti-vaccine, emphasizing that his children are vaccinated. The report further clarified that he resigned from the Children’s Health Defense to deflect criticism of his previous activities against vaccines.

Reactions to Kennedy's confirmation have been diverse. Environmental lawyer and former majority leader Mitch McConnell expressed disapproval, while some Republicans like Sen. Ron Johnson remain optimistic that Kennedy might bring fresh agricultural perspectives necessary for America’s health approach, says Fox5DC. 

According to the New York Post, during interactions with lawmakers, Kennedy discussed his vision for tackling America's chronic disease epidemic and obesity. Citing data fluctuations since President Kennedy's era in his hearing, Kennedy called for attention to the changing American diet, which may be contributing to prevalent health issues. "Epidemics are not caused by genes. Something is poisoning the American people," Kennedy remarked in the hearing.

The decision further emphasizes the complex political landscape Kennedy must navigate to reconcile his past stances with future policies as he steps into his role overseeing a $1.7 trillion budget.