President-elect Donald Trump has announced his choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The nomination has already stirred debate due to Kennedy’s long-standing skepticism toward vaccines, his proclivity toward conspiracy theories, and his rejection of the science behind crop control technologies.
The son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy is set to oversee a major department that influences the entire U.S. healthcare system if confirmed by the Senate. The nomination makes good on a Trump campaign promise to let Kennedy “go wild” with health and food policy.
Trump expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment on his Truth Social platform, stating, “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.” He further wrote, “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”
Trump highlighted that Kennedy’s role would focus on safeguarding Americans from harmful chemicals, pollutants, and pharmaceutical products, positioning HHS as a leading force in tackling the nation’s health challenges.
Kennedy, who recently endorsed Trump after a short-lived independent presidential bid, has been vocal about his plans to reform federal health agencies, particularly those involved with drug and food safety. He recently told NBC News that Trump tasked him with “cleaning up corruption” and returning federal health agencies to “science-based policies.” Among his more controversial proposals is a restructuring of departments like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s nutrition division, which he said “have to go.”
With oversight of vast federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HHS Secretary is a pivotal figure in shaping U.S. public health policy. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy” initiative is already collecting public input on thousands of federal appointments, signaling the broad changes he and Trump may pursue within the government’s health landscape.
