by WorldTribune Staff / 247 Real News February 13, 2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed by the Senate to be director of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Thursday’s vote was 52-48, with all Republicans senators voting yes with the exception of Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McConnell was also the only GOP no vote on the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence.

Kennedy has vowed to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), saying he intends to shift the focus of the agencies he will oversee at HHS toward promotion of a healthy lifestyle, including overhauling dietary guidelines, taking aim at ultra-processed foods, and getting to the root causes of chronic diseases.

“Our country is not going to be destroyed because we get the marginal tax rate wrong. It is going to be destroyed if we get this issue wrong,” Kennedy said as he pointed to chronic diseases. “And I am in a unique position to be able to stop this epidemic.”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, Idaho Republican, said: “Mr. Kennedy is committed to reorienting our approach to health care and restoring faith in our institutions. His passion for addressing America’s chronic disease epidemic will save lives, reduce costs and establish a foundation for a healthier, stronger country.”

The Wall Street Journal noted: “Kennedy will also have to juggle other imperatives as secretary. He will likely face pressure from antiabortion advocates to dial back access to abortions in emergency rooms and crack down on shipments of pills that women can take in their homes to terminate pregnancies. Kennedy, a backer of abortion rights, has said that he would follow the Trump administration’s lead on abortion policy.”

HHS is a sprawling agency with a $1.7 trillion budget and oversight of food and drugs, disease-fighting efforts, and major insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Among the first action Kennedy takes as head of HHS could be to fire legions of workers or eliminate entire offices from the Food and Drug Administration. He also proposes shifting resources away from infectious disease-fighting and toward research that promotes general health.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who was seen as a potential GOP holdout, said on Monday she got Kennedy to take a closer look at efforts to cap “indirect costs” linked to grants from the National Institutes of Health. She said the cap was arbitrary and would lead to job losses.

Kennedy “has promised that as soon as he is confirmed, he will reexamine this initiative that was implemented prior to his confirmation,” Collins said.

🚨📣 MONUMENTAL WIN – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. CONFIRMED for secretary of Health and Human Services

Congratulations to our founder, @RobertKennedyJr! Thank you for your tireless efforts to end the childhood chronic disease epidemic. Because of your dedication and sacrifice,… pic.twitter.com/UzrAM1QIc8

— Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) February 13, 2025

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  Time for MAHA: Kennedy confirmed by Senate to lead HHS, WorldTribune.com