The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday in a 52-48 vote, almost entirely along party lines. The only Republican who did not support Kennedy was Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee congratulated Kennedy in a social media post.
“Time to MAHA!” he said in another, referring to Kennedy’s “Make America Health Again” slogan.
In a post on X, Utah Sen. John Curtis said he and Kennedy met to hash out the senator’s concerns about public trust in health institutions, “including ensuring Americans have access to factual information, safe and effective vaccines, and quality care.“
“We also covered my priorities on food and water safety and strengthening critical mineral production in the healthcare industry,” said Curtis, adding he planned to vote in favor of confirming Kennedy.
Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, received sharp scrutiny from both sides of the aisle during his two-day-long confirmation hearing, but especially from Democrats over the subject of vaccines. Kennedy repeatedly said he supports vaccines and isn’t looking to take them away, while labeling himself as pro-safety instead of anti-vaccine.
Trump 2.0 is very productive
Kennedy’s pick as secretary of Health and Human Services was one of the more controversial nominations to Trump’s Cabinet. Others include Tulsi Gabbard for the director of national intelligence and Kash Patel for the director of FBI.
Gabbard was confirmed Wednesday. And while a final vote on Patel hasn’t been scheduled yet, he will most likely be confirmed after clearing a Senate committee vote Thursday. Despite the scrutiny these three faced during their hearings, they’ve managed to keep the Senate GOP on their side and avoid any major delays.
It’s also a testament to a more prepared Trump administration. As of Feb. 13, Trump has 16 confirmed Cabinet members.
During Trump’s first term, he only secured 11 members by mid-February — taking him at least two more weeks to reach 16 members — meanwhile at this same point four years ago, former President Joe Biden had secured seven.
Biden didn’t have 16 cabinet members in place until March 10.
Why did Mitch McConnell vote against Kennedy?
Kennedy managed to persuade Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., to support him, despite Cassidy, a medical doctor, saying earlier he didn’t know if he would vote in support of the nominee.
“We need to make America healthy again, and it is my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will get this done,” said Cassidy.
But one Republican did not change his mind. McConnell has so far opposed the nominations of Kennedy, Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to Kentucky Today, McConnell, a survivor of childhood polio, said he refused to “condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles.”
“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,” he said. “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 former majority leader added he hoped Kennedy will not fuel more doubts around vaccines and will restore trust in health institutions.
Contributing: Cami Mondeaux