Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptic and former presidential candidate who fled his family’s party and threw his “medical freedom” movement behind President Trump, has been confirmed by the Senate as the nation’s next health secretary.
The vote, 52-48, capped a remarkable rise for Mr. Kennedy and a curious twist in American politics. He was confirmed by a Republican Senate, without a single Democratic vote, in a chamber where his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, all held office as Democrats.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a polio survivor and the former Republican leader, voted no, the lone Republican to oppose Mr. Kennedy. Mr. McConnell issued a searing statement explaining his vote.
“Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness,” it read in part. “But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.”
The senator said he could not “condone the re-litigation of proven cures.”
Mr. Kennedy is expected to be sworn in on Thursday afternoon to lead the federal Department of Health and Human Services, a sprawling agency with 13 operating divisions, including some — the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — that he has called corrupt.
Those scientific agencies are already reeling from the onslaught of directives coming from the Trump administration. The N.I.H., targeted for budget cuts, has just lost its No. 2 official, who retired to avoid being pushed into a job he didn’t want, according to people familiar with his decision.
The C.D.C.’s weekly scientific journal, which produces reports on outbreaks and other health threats, was muted by orders that prohibited the release of any public communication until it had been reviewed by a presidential appointee or designee — delaying a report on bird flu. Information was later posted, then deleted, from the department website.
The question now: What will Mr. Kennedy do with his newfound power and platform? Mr. Kennedy has said he wants to tackle the chronic disease epidemic, rid grocery stores of ultra-processed foods, and root out conflicts of interest in federal agencies and the expert panels that advise them. He has also vowed to “follow the science” in pursuing research on vaccine safety.
But he has offered few specifics. Some of Mr. Kennedy’s allies argue that he will be able to get more done if he focuses on less contentious topics like chronic disease and the food supply — issues that can generate broad bipartisan support. But Mr. Kennedy’s allies in what they call the “vaccine safety” movement — which its critics call the anti-vaccine movement — want to see him focus his energies there.
Mr. Kennedy’s agenda may soon come into greater focus. He agreed to give his first television interview to the Fox News host Laura Ingraham; the network said it would air on her show Thursday evening.
Mr. Kennedy’s views about vaccination were at the center of Democrats’ fight against him. He has said that he favors both the measles vaccine and the polio vaccine, and would not do anything to prevent or discourage people from taking them. But he opposes vaccine mandates, even for schoolchildren, and when pushed, he refused to accept the mainstream scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism.
“Mr. Kennedy is fond of saying he’s not making recommendations about whether parents should vaccinate their kids — he’s just asking questions and giving people choices,” Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, said Wednesday after the Senate voted to advance Mr. Kennedy’s nomination.
“That’s a slippery tactic used by conspiracy theorists to dodge any real responsibility for their words and actions,” Mr. Wyden added, “and it’s absurd coming from somebody who’s about to be confirmed for a job that is entirely about making recommendations.”
Senator Angus King, the independent from Maine, was more succinct: “If this were a secret ballot, this man wouldn’t get 20 votes.”
Republicans, even those uneasy about Mr. Kennedy, said he had assuaged their misgivings.
“I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies,” Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, wrote in a lengthy social media post on Wednesday.
But, she added, “He has made numerous commitments to me and my colleagues, promising to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and to base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research.”
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