The U.S. Senate today confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The department is the largest in the government, with over 80,000 employees and a budget that exceeds $1 trillion annually, vastly outpacing all other departments. To compare, the Department of Education’s budget for 2024 was $238 billion.
The vote was along partisan lines, with only Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican, voting against RFK Jr.
| Vote | Total | Democrats | Republicans | Independents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 52 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| No | 48 | 45 | 1 | 2 | |
| Not yet voted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Before the vote, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer took to the floor and called RFK Jr. “not remotely qualified to become the next secretary of health and human services. In fact, I might go further. Robert F Kennedy Jr might be one of the least qualified people the president could have chosen for the job. It’s almost as if Mr. Kennedy’s beliefs, history, and background were tailor-made to be the exact opposite of what the job demands.”
RFK Jr. is an unconventional pick, having never served in government before. He was a Democrat who ran for president in 2024 but switched to independent, and endorsed Donald Trump. His family of Democrat scions has excoriated him and painted him as a lunatic. But his views on vaccine safety and the poisons in foods have gained him more and more support, as Americans learn more about his concerns about toxins in America’s food supply and environment. He has support from both Democrats and Republicans on this topic. He has been an environmental lawyer for much of his career, focusing on food integrity and climate change.
