Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secretary of HHS
Cabinet
Score
55/100 · Moderate
Net worth
$8M (est.)
Tenure
HHS Secretary 2025-present
About
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an environmental lawyer and son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968. He founded Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy organization designated as a top spreader of vaccine misinformation by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. He ran as an independent presidential candidate in 2024 before endorsing Trump. Confirmed 52-48 on party lines as HHS Secretary, he oversees the FDA, CDC, NIH, and Medicare/Medicaid. His confirmation drew opposition from medical and public health organizations over his vaccine skepticism, anti-fluoride positions, and claims that cellular phones cause cancer.
Donations & financial influence
| Category | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total raised (career) | N/A (appointed) | |
| Corporate total | N/A | |
| AIPAC / pro-Israel | N/A | |
| Oil & gas / fossil | N/A | |
| Pharma / healthcare | N/A | |
| Defense | N/A | |
| Wall Street / finance | N/A | |
| Big Tech | N/A |
Controversies & conflicts of interest
- Spread vaccine misinformation linked to measles outbreaks
- Claimed WiFi causes cancer, antidepressants cause mass shootings, no scientific basis
- A parasitic worm ate part of his brain (self-disclosed in 2012 divorce documents)
- Left dead bear cub in Central Park for photo (admitted 2024)
- Affair during marriage; multiple personal scandals
- Originally sued corporations, now serves administration rolling back environmental protections
- Represented tobacco companies in some litigation