Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by the Senate as President Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services on Thursday, capping a contentious fight over his skepticism on vaccines that had divided Republicans.
Senators voted 52-48 to place Kennedy, 71, atop the nation’s health bureaucracy with oversight of a budget of roughly $1.7 trillion.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), along with every Democrat, opposed Kennedy’s confirmation.
RFK Jr., a longtime environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic, had received assurances this week from Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that they would back him, easing the path to Trump’s cabinet.
“I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination,” Murkowski said Wednesday.
“Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and I sought assurance that, as HHS secretary, he would do nothing to make it difficult for people to take vaccines or discourage vaccination efforts.
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