Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's former opponent in the 2024 election, was officially sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr.’s mission to “Make America Healthy Again” comes with uncertainty from individuals as the new cabinet member has a history of spreading misinformation.
Who is RFK Jr.?
Trump appointed RFK Jr. to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The news came as a shock to many as the Kennedy family member had run against the president in the 2024 election as an independent, with differing political views.
RFK Jr. is the nephew of 35th President John F. Kennedy and son of Robert F. Kennedy, former attorney general. Despite being in the current political eye, RFK Jr.'s career started in 1985, and was rooted in public service.
RFK Jr.’s career began as an environmental lawyer, but he is also known for being an anti-vaccine activist and a conspiracy theorist. Much of the conspiracy theories RFK Jr. chooses to spread pertain to the supposed dangers of medically-back vaccinations.
Besides the Kennedy family name and working as a lawyer, a background in politics and medicine is lacking in RFK Jr. 's portfolio.
According to MBA Healthcare Management, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for monitoring the Federal Drug Administration, manage Medicaid and Medicare policies, oversee the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and supervise the Native American Health Service, among other things.
With important duties to uphold for the country, the American people should want an expert in the field. However, the qualifications to become Secretary of Health and Human Services are vague.
“The Constitution is silent on the qualifications of a cabinet member - they just have to earn the "advice and consent" of the Senate - which has been viewed as the majority of the Senate voting in their favor,” Political Science Professor at Wright State University Dr. Lee Hannah said.
With a position that affects the lives and safety of Americans, RFK Jr.'s lack of experience and controversial health opinions is a concern for many, including his cousin.
Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s cousin who previously served as a U.S. ambassador and is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, spoke out against RFK Jr. before his senate confirmation.
"Overseeing the FDA, the NIH, the CDC, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services- agencies that are charged with protecting the most vulnerable among us -is an enormous responsibility, and one that Bobby is unqualified to fill. He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience. His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed. These facts alone should be disqualifying. But he has personal qualities related to this position which, for me,
pose even greater concern," she wrote in a letter and later read on social media.
RFK Jr.’s plans and potential dangers
On Feb. 13, Congress confirmed RFK Jr. in a 52-48 vote, mostly along party lines.
As Trump's newest cabinet member, he is focused on carrying out plans with the intention to “Make America Healthy Again,” which is a new policy focused on supplying America with healthier food and backed research.
Similarly, Trump signed an executive order to create a healthier America, comparing several health conditions burdening the public to other countries. The order seeks to combat these physical and mental illnesses and “reverse” chronic illness.
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, it is RFK Jr.’s job to carry out this order and promote fact-checked and reliable information. A job many are unsure the cabinet member will be able to carry out as he has been known for theorizing that vaccines cause autism, HIV was not caused by AIDS and COVID-19 was exaggerated, according to a Forbes article.
"Bobby is addicted to attention and power. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children - vaccinating his own children while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs," Caroline Kennedy wrote. "...his constant denigration of our health care
system and the conspiratorial half-truths he has told about vaccines, including in connection with Samoa's deadly 2019 measles outbreak, have cost lives."
Heather Emmert, a social work major at WSU, is also among those with concerns that RFK Jr. has a history of spreading misinformation.
“I am worried we will have something more serious than COVID on our hands and because of all the misinformation, and the inability of a large portion of the population to understand how to spot it, that we will see epidemics and pandemics like we have not seen them in recent memory,” Emmert said.
However, several Republican senators including Lisa Murkowski from Alaska support the appointment despite his views on vaccines.
"Instead of focusing on who covers our exorbitant healthcare costs, we need to reduce these costs by directing our attention to prevention and keeping people healthy. This is the appeal of RFK, and many Alaskans have shared that view with me," she writes in a X post.
"I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination. Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and I sought assurance that, as HHS Secretary, he would do nothing to make it difficult for people to take vaccines or discourage vaccination efforts," she reassures in the same post.
Politically, Trump's choice of RFK Jr. could cause unnecessary headaches for Congress and he is not the only controversial cabinet member pick. Pushback from other cabinet member picks including Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth may cause the president to lose support if members cannot fulfill the duties of the position.
“The one issue though for Trump choosing less conventional picks like Hegseth and RFK Jr. is that it forces members of his own party to take really hard votes (where a more conventional pick may sail through) and it can also come back to make people question his judgment if these leaders create problems and chaos at their agencies,” Dr. Hannah said.
