(NewsNation) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could face some resistance as he seeks Senate confirmation to be Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
When he announced Kennedy as his pick to lead the department, Trump said the former independent presidential candidate will “play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives.”
As part of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, Kennedy is looking to do a complete system overhaul of the agencies that regulate health and food. He’s called for stricter pesticide regulations and made a vow to get processed foods removed from school lunches.
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On vaccines, Kennedy has said he wants a re-examination of their safety data. Health and medical experts raised concerns to NewsNation partner The Hill about Kennedy’s influence on the Trump administration, as he has spread misinformation about vaccines before. In an interview with NBC News, Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine and said that he wouldn’t “take them away” from those who want one.
“I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them,” Kennedy told the news outlet earlier this month.
Kennedy will likely face political pushback from senators during his confirmation as HHS Secretary.
Democratic senators such as Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ed Markey of Massachusetts criticized Kennedy as Trump’s choice to head the department.
“Dangerous. Unqualified. Unserious,” Markey wrote.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., posted on X that Kennedy potentially being in charge of Health and Human Services “could not be more dangerous.”
“There’s no telling how far an anti-vaxxer (and) fringe conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. could set America back in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research, & more,” she said.
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On the other hand, some Republican lawmakers celebrated Kennedy’s nomination.
“RFK Jr. has championed issues like healthy foods and the need for greater transparency in our public health infrastructure,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in a statement Thursday, The Hill reported. “I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support a conservative, pro-American agenda.”
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said on X that he could not be happier with Kennedy.
“He’s a brilliant, courageous truth-teller whose unwavering commitment to transparency will make America a healthier nation,” Johnson wrote.
Some lobbyists in the food and health industry are planning ways to stop the Senate from confirming Kennedy, Politico reported. Others are currying favor in case they aren’t successful, the news outlet writes.
According to Reuters, shortly after news of Kennedy’s nomination came down, shares of vaccine makers including Pfizer and Moderna fell by as much as 2%. Processed food stocks decreased as well, CNBC wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
