Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday.
Photo: AP
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite Republicans opposing the 71-year-old, he was confirmed as a secretary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellafter voting for President Donald Trump’s National Intelligence Director Tarsi Gabbard and Wenny “Nay” of RFK JR.
The senator voted 52-48 to oversee Kennedy’s HHS budget of around $1.7 trillion. McConnell, along with all Democrats, opposed the confirmation. The 82-year-old, who came to the Senate in a wheelchair, also did not vote for the new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegses. However, Gabbard, RFK JR and Heggs have cleared as Republicans make up a majority in the Senate.
Polio survivor Mitch McConnell has previously denounced RFK JR’s stance on health, particularly vaccines. “The polio vaccine has embraced the promise to save millions of lives and eradicate terrible diseases. Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven treatments are not merely information-free, they are dangerous.” He insisted last year.
“Anyone seeking the consent of the Senate to serve the Senate will help to avoid even the emergence of a relationship with such efforts.”
Speaking specifically about RFK JR, the 82-year-old said: This is to restore confidence in public health agencies. ”
