What to Expect Under RFK Jr.’s HHS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services last week, leaving him and the “MAHA Commission” responsible for delegating $1.7 trillion in spending.

Vaccines: Kennedy has disputed claims that he is anti-vaccine and said he supports access to vaccines for people who opt for them, though he has been critical of some vaccines’ effectiveness and potential side effects. 

Healthcare: Kennedy called the US the “sickest country in the world,” and planned to focus on root causes of chronic diseases and prevention, to reduce healthcare costs, when running for president in 2024.

Pharmaceuticals: Research will reportedly be done on abortion pills and marijuana, though Kennedy did not take a staunch stance on either. Kennedy once called drugmakers “the most corrupt companies in the world,” and said he planned to “uproot the influence of Big Pharma and Wall Street firms that are heavily invested in the medical industry from medical regulatory agencies.” He also called pharmaceuticals a cause of chronic diseases. “I know people, including members of my family, who've had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than they have getting off of heroin,” he said during his confirmation hearing.

Gender Transition Treatments: When running for president, Kennedy supported restricting gender transition treatments for minors, expressing concerns about puberty blockers and decision-making capabilities. 

How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the left have reported critically of Kennedy, featuring experts’ concerns, and a Politico (Lean Left bias) headline stated, “RFK Jr.’s plans could make Musk’s look small.” Outlets on the right are largely optimistic about Kennedy, with Fox News (Right) largely featuring experts’ support. But not all are completely sold. An opinion writer for National Review Opinion (Right) referred to Kennedy as “dangerously wrong,” and a New York Post Opinion (Right) piece from November called him “nuts on a lot of fronts.”