Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the nation’s most publicly recognized vaccine skeptics, is expected to face sharp questions Wednesday when he goes before a Senate panel for the first time as President Donald Trump’s pick to become health secretary.
A longtime environmental lawyer with no experience working in public health administration or medicine, Kennedy is known for his work in questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including encouraging parents not to adhere to vaccination recommendations and helping to sue a vaccine manufacturer for what he alleged was marketing fraud.
If confirmed, Kennedy would be in charge of overseeing a vast federal agency that manages the health care of some 170 million Americans, regulates access to drugs and vaccines and tracks urgent outbreaks of diseases and foodborne illnesses.
According to two people familiar with the matter, Vice President JD Vance has been lobbying senators behind closed doors to support Kennedy. A spokesperson for Vance did not respond to a request for comment.
“Vance is working the phones to make sure Bobby gets over the line,” one person said.
In private meetings with senators, Kennedy has been telling senators that he’s not “anti-vaccine,” but rather that he wants more study, according to two people familiar with the discussions. That message appears to be working with several Republicans who say they are satisfied with his approach so far.
