12 sources·Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed as Health Secretary, Promises Major Reforms Amid Controversy

Kennedy pledges to tackle chronic diseases and increase food safety following his confirmation as Secretary of HHS amid partisan opposition and concerns over his qualifications.

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Kennedy has focused much of his healthcare crusade on his contention that American healthcare mostly prioritizes treating chronic illnesses over preventing them.
Robert F. Kennedy now heads Trump's MAHA commission: What to know
USA TODAY·1M
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Mr. Kennedy is a scion of a famous Democratic political family who built his career as an environmental lawyer, activist and chairman of the anti-vaccine Children’s Health Defense, making him an unlikely pick for health secretary in a Republican administration.
New HHS chief RFK Jr. says he will address physical and ‘spiritual’ health crisis
Washington Times·1M
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Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America's largest health agency.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. narrowly confirmed by Senate as Trump's health secretary
ABC News·1M
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Center
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The current healthcare system profits from disease rather than preventing it.
RFK Jr.’s top health and wellness priorities as doctors share input
FOX News·1M
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The Wall Street Journal has predicted that newly-named Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will become the first of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees to leave their role.
Wall Street Journal Predicts Which Trump Pick Will Be First To Go, And Why
HuffPost·1M
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To make a lasting change, as Kennedy has said he wants to do, it takes years and requires technical experts who can change regulations.
RFK's Health Agenda May Clash With Trump's Cuts
Newsmax·1M
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Right
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Kennedy asserted that the U.S. is the sickest country in the world, a talking point he has repeated many times in reference to its low ranking on various metrics among developed nations.
RFK Jr. Outlines Priorities on Food, Vaccines, and Personnel
TIME Magazine·1M
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Ending the corruption, ending the corporate capture of those agencies, getting rid of the people on those panels that have conflicts of interest — we can do unadorned and unimpeded science rather than the kind of product that is coming out of those agencies.
RFK Jr. signals ending the ‘childhood chronic disease epidemic’ will be top priority as HHS secretary
New York Post·1M
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Feb 14th, 2025, 7:41 AM ET

Summary

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services with a narrow 52-48 vote in the Senate. Despite opposition from all Democrats and Republican Mitch McConnell, Kennedy, who has no formal medical background and controversial views on vaccines, aims to address America's chronic disease epidemic. He plans to investigate food and pharmaceutical practices and ensure transparency in health data. Following his confirmation, President Trump established the 'Make America Healthy Again' Commission, which Kennedy will chair. However, his management experience and far-reaching agenda may face challenges amid potential government budget cuts.

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