The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday. Kennedy is the 15th member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to be confirmed.
The Senate confirmed Kennedy in a 52-48 vote, with former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voting against the nominee. McConnell has now opposed three of Trump’s nominees, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Much to Democrats’ dismay, the nominees once thought to be long shots have, one by one, been confirmed to serve in Trump’s Cabinet.
“President Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the charge in making America healthy again,” Republican Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) said in a floor speech Tuesday. “He promises to make HHS a collaborative, transparent, and science-driven agency under his leadership.”
“Our public health agencies do critical work, and I’m a supporter of their research, and I’m proud of the contributions they make to American leadership and medicine and innovation,” Thune continued. “But if we’re going to Make America Healthy Again, the agencies doing this important work have to rebuild some trust with Americans.”
In the days leading up to his confirmation, several key Republicans rallied behind Kennedy.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska endorsed Kennedy just moments after the Senate advanced his nomination on Wednesday. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine also came out in support of the nominee on Tuesday. Notably, both Collins and Murkowski voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and have a history of deviating from party-line votes.
Although Murkowski and Collins have previously bucked their own party, both senators fell in line and backed Kennedy.
Kennedy is the latest of Trump’s more contentious nominees to secure his confirmation. The Senate notably confirmed Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence on Wednesday and advanced Kash Patel’s nomination to head the FBI on Thursday morning.
Much to Democrats’ dismay, the nominees once thought to be long shots have, one by one, been confirmed to serve in Trump’s Cabinet.
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