RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing set for today

Kennedy, 71, is a longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist whose family is mythic in Democratic politics. He is married to actress Cheryl Hines. 

Though he initially opted not to enter politics, Kennedy — with widespread name recognition as the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy — launched his own presidential bid in 2023. After initially seeking the Democratic nomination, Kennedy changed his bid to independent, before dropping out to endorse President Trump in August.  

Before launching a presidential bid, Kennedy worked for two decades as president of the   Waterkeeper Alliance, a nonprofit. He also founded Children’s Health Defense, which has launched legal challenges against vaccine requirements and approvals, and he served as chairman beginning in 2016 .

Kennedy attended Harvard University. He has a law degree from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law from Pace University. He’s married to actor Cheryl Hines and was married twice before. He has six children. 

While many of Kennedy’s stances, like questioning ultra-processed foods and the risks of synthetic food additives and dyes, have appealed to people across political lines — other views have been more controversial, including his doubts around vaccines, fluoride and other targets of his “Make America Healthy Again” platform.

Kennedy has spread anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, commenting that “there’s no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and has repeated false claims linking vaccines to autism — a theory debunked by decades of scientific research. 

RFK Jr.’s history on vaccines also has experts worried about what may happen if bird flu becomes the next pandemic. Amid his presidential run, he discussed having the National Institutes of Health take a break from infectious disease research. If confirmed as health secretary, this would be one of several agencies he would have influence over.

He has also promoted raw milk, which experts have long warned against due to health risks.

Conservatives have also taken issue with Kennedy’s views on abortion. Kennedy said in May that he didn’t support abortion restrictions at any point in pregnancy, before later walking the statement back and clarifying that he supports abortion access up to fetal viability. As HHS secretary, Kennedy would have authority over how the FDA regulates medications used for abortions.