Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The final vote was 52-48. Only one Republican, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), voted in opposition to Kennedy’s confirmation.
Yesterday, the Senate voted to break the filibuster on RFK Jr.’s nomination for HHS Secretary. The vote to invoke cloture was 53-47 along party lines.
“Congratulations to @RobertKennedyJr on his confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) wrote on X following the vote. “Finally, someone to detox the place after the Fauci era. Get ready for health care freedom and MAHA!”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), previously believed to be a potential “no” vote, announced Wednesday that she would support Kennedy.
“While there is no dispute that the U.S. spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country, our health outcomes do not reflect this investment,” she wrote on X. “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. Chronic conditions are a significant source of illness and major drivers of public debt; he recognizes this and is committed to addressing it.”
Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing last month that the “first thing I’ve done every morning for the past 20 years, is to get on my knees and pray to God, that he would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic, and to help America’s children.”
The White House declared that RFK Jr.’s confirmation “underscores President Trump’s dedication to empowering Americans with healthier lives, restoring trust in public health institutions, and championing medical freedom for all.”
