President-elect Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a controversial choice that is expected to spark intense debates during Kennedy’s confirmation process.
This nomination adds to Trump’s list of provocative appointments, which could challenge Senate Republicans’ loyalty during the confirmation battle.
Trump made the announcement on Thursday, confirming CNN’s earlier reporting, and expressed his enthusiasm about the pick.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump emphasized the importance of the HHS in safeguarding the health of Americans.
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“The safety and health of all Americans is the most important role of any administration, and HHS will play a big role in protecting everyone from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the health crisis in this country,” Trump said. “Mr. Kennedy will restore these agencies to the gold standard of scientific research and transparency, ending the chronic disease epidemic and making America great and healthy again!”
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Kennedy, who accepted the offer, is known for his outspoken anti-vaccine views and has long been a leading figure in spreading misinformation about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. He has also been based in Palm Beach, Florida, following the election.
In his own statement, Kennedy vowed to “rid the department of corruption” and pledged to give Americans greater transparency in making health decisions.
“I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture,” Kennedy said. “Together, we will make Americans the healthiest people on Earth again.”
If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee the nation’s major health programs, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, and Medicaid.
While Trump has moved away from efforts to fully repeal Obamacare, it remains uncertain how his administration will approach health care reform in a second term.
Trump had promised to offer a plan to improve the ACA during his campaign, but details remain unclear.
Kennedy’s role would also involve overseeing any efforts by Trump and congressional Republicans to modify Medicaid, which covers millions of low-income Americans.
In Trump’s first term, attempts to implement work requirements for Medicaid were blocked in court, and Republicans sought to cut funding for the program.
Medicaid is expected to remain a key issue, particularly as the GOP looks for ways to offset proposed tax cuts.
Kennedy’s nomination marks a sharp turn from earlier statements made by Trump’s transition team. Just days before the election, Howard Lutnick, a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, had said that Kennedy would “not be getting a job for HHS.”
That comment created a stir within Trump’s circle, prompting the president-elect to personally reassure Kennedy that the final decision would be his.
Kennedy had briefly launched his own presidential campaign last year—first as a Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden, then as an independent—largely focused on addressing what he described as a “chronic disease epidemic.”
His platform included proposals to overhaul food safety, promote alternative medicine, and shift funding priorities for vaccine research.
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Toward the end of his campaign, Kennedy met with Trump on multiple occasions, discussing the possibility of an endorsement in exchange for a role in the administration. He suspended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump the same day.
Trump had hinted at appointing Kennedy to oversee public health during a rally in New York City in October, telling the crowd that if reelected, he would let Kennedy “go wild on health,” including reforming food and medicine policies.
Following Thursday’s announcement, shares of major vaccine manufacturers saw a sharp decline, reflecting concerns over Kennedy’s stance on vaccines.
Kennedy, for his part, has vowed to examine vaccine safety and efficacy but has also promised not to “take vaccines away from anyone.” Additionally, he has said he would recommend that states and local governments remove fluoride from public water supplies.
Kennedy has also suggested significant changes to staffing at public health agencies. In an interview with MSNBC, he indicated plans to cut workers from the FDA’s nutrition departments and replace hundreds of officials at the National Institutes of Health with his own appointees.
In a post-election interview with NPR, Kennedy outlined his priorities under Trump’s administration.
“President Trump has given me three instructions,” Kennedy said. “He wants to eliminate corruption and conflicts of interest in regulatory agencies, return them to the gold standard of evidence-based science and medicine, and make measurable progress in reducing chronic disease within two years.”
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