RFK JR swore as head of health and human services of the United States

Robert F Kennedy JR, one of the most controversial cabinet selections of President Donald Trump, has sworn as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States.

The former presidential candidate will now supervise the key health agencies with about 80,000 employees and a budget of billion dollars. The legislators on both sides of the hall had questioned their without foundation health claims and the skepticism of vaccines.

On Thursday, Kennedy was confirmed by a 52-48 vote. No Democrat supported him. The former leader of the majority of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy.

Trump swore to Kennedy in himself in the Oval office, marking another victory for the president while seeking to quickly review almost all levels of government.

The Senate is dedicating the nights and early mornings while rushing to complete the president’s cabinet by confirming his remaining nominees. The legislators also approved Brooke Rollins as head of the Department of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28.

Kennedy is the second selection of the controversial cabinet confirmed this week after Tulsi Gabbard, another played selection, was confirmed as director of National Intelligence in a narrow vote of the Senate on Wednesday.

It will now supervise agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Medicines Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Medicare and Medicaid service centers.

Kennedy will also be accused of supervising the health industry of the United States, which includes food security, pharmaceutical products, public health and vaccines. He ran for the White House in 2024 as Independent, but abandoned and supported Trump.

The president’s decision to take advantage of Kennedy to lead the Federal Health Agency attracted the skepticism of several Republicans. Many questioned Kennedy’s previous comments about immunizations, their ties with groups that make health claims without foundation and their views on abortion.

Kennedy is the founder of the Health Defense of Anti -Vacamic Children, who gained prominence in the US .

Kennedy, the nephew of former president John F Kennedy, has denied that it is against vaccination, noting that his own children are immunized. He insisted during his confirmation hearings that he simply supports stricter studies and injections security tests.

Some Republicans have praised Kennedy for their criticisms about the use of food additives and push to stop the large pharmaceutical ones.

During the hearings, legislators also interrogated Kennedy in their promotion of erroneous information and knowledge of the United States health system.

He was asked to explain his position on abortion, since he indicated previously that he was in favor of the rights of abortion. He responded by telling the legislators who agreed with Trump that access to abortion should be controlled by individual states and that “each abortion is a tragedy.”

The exchange attracted the scrutiny of the Democrats who accused Kennedy of “selling” their propretistic values ​​to ensure the nomination of President Trump.

One of his audience was interrupted by the protesters shouting. But he also received strong applause when he promised to make the United States again healthy, a slogan used by the Trump administration.

Before the audience, Caroline Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy JR’s cousin, urged US senators to reject him as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. She said that Kennedy’s opinions about vaccines disqualify him from the role of being one of the leading health policy responsible for the United States.

It was not enough to deter several Republicans who previously retained their support from Kennedy, but ended up approving his nomination during Thursday’s vote.

Many eyes were in Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, who presides over the Senate Health Committee.

Cassidy, a doctor, said he was fighting with Kennedy’s posture about vaccines. He voted to confirm Kennedy.

“We need to make the United States again healthy, and it is my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will do this,” Cassidy published in X after the vote.

Others saw McConnell closely, a Kennedy critic and polio survivor. McConnell had warned Kennedy not to undermine the polyomyelitis vaccine.

He voted against confirmation.

“People, parents and families have the right to press for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific orientation to prevent and treat the disease,” McConnell said in a statement. “But a record of the trafficking of dangerous conspiracy and the erosion of confidence in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.”

The Senate continues to advance with Trump’s nominees. After confirming Kennedy, legislators are expected to advance the nomination of Howard Lutnick as the next Secretary of Commerce.

This runs through the final vote so that its confirmation takes place for the end of the week.

Legislators are also expected to take the Kash Patel nomination, Trump’s controversial election to lead the Federal Research Office (FBI), after the selection received the approval of a key committee on Thursday.

Trump’s election to direct the Department of Education, Linda McMahon also had its confirmation hearing on Thursday.