Kennedy's 'MAHA' era begins

Health Care

The Big Story

RFK Jr. confirmed as health chief, vows new 'MAHA' era

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Trump's latest Cabinet pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raising the longtime vaccine skeptic to the highest health position in the country.

The Senate voted mostly along party lines 52-48, with Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) being the sole GOP vote against Kennedy’s nod to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kennedy managed to overcome a handful of GOP senators whose doubts threatened his confirmation. Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) had all expressed reservations about Kennedy leading up to the confirmation, but both Kennedy and Vice President Vance were able to clinch the senators' support with closed-door assurances.

McConnell, who survived polio as a child, said his health history influenced his decision to cast the sole Republican vote against Kennedy's nomination.

“In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world,” McConnell said in a statement after the vote. “I will not condone the relitigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles.”

The now-confirmed HHS secretary’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda aims to refocus U.S. health priorities on chronic illness instead of infectious diseases. He’s talked about getting rid of ultra-processed foods. But so far, Kennedy has offered few specifics about how he would accomplish it all.

After being sworn in a few hours after the vote, Kennedy vowed to implement an aggressive agenda at HHS focused on “radical transparency” and “ending the corruption” of health agencies. He promised to root out conflicts of interest in the agencies as well as the expert panels that advise them.

Once that happens, “we can do unadorned and unimpeded science rather than the kind of product that is coming out of those agencies,” Kennedy said.

In the Oval Office during Kennedy’s swearing-in ceremony, President Trump said he would sign an executive order establishing a new commission to “Make America Healthy Again” with Kennedy as the chair. The commission will investigate the cause of the decades-long increase in childhood chronic illness, Trump said.

"He’s absolutely committed to getting dangerous chemicals out of our environment and out of our food supply, and getting the American people the facts and the answers that we deserve after years in which our public health system has squandered the trust of our citizens,” Trump said.

Trump also criticized McConnell’s “no” vote, calling him a “very bitter guy.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

McConnell on RFK Jr.: ‘I will not condone the relitigation of proven cures’

Sen. Mitch McConnell issued a blistering indictment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday, with the Kentucky Republican saying his childhood bout with polio heavily influenced his decision to vote against Kennedy as Health and Human Services secretary. “In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world. I will not condone the relitigation of …

Full Story

Trump blasts McConnell for voting against RFK Jr., disregarding his childhood polio

President Trump on Thursday blasted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for his vote opposing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., disregarding his childhood bout with polio and questioning his mental abilities. “I was the one that got him to drop out of the leadership position, so he can’t love me. But he’s not voting against Bobby, he’s voting against me. But that’s all right. He endorsed me. You know …

Full Story

NIH reportedly loses 2 top leaders in 2 days

Two key staff members at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are reportedly leaving the agency amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk to drastically cut down the size of the federal workforce. NIH Principal Deputy Director Lawrence Tabak told staffers in an email Tuesday he was retiring effective immediately, according to CBS News. Along with being principal …

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Louisiana moves to extradite NY physician in abortion pill case

Louisiana is trying to extradite a New York doctor for allegedly sending abortion medication into the state. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill signed an extradition form Wednesday for Dr. Margaret Carpenter, less than two weeks after a grand jury indicted the physician for prescribing and sending abortion pills to a woman in the state, Murrill announced in a post on social platform X. In the post, Murrill states …

Full Story

Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

State Supreme Court considers whether UW Health must follow state’s labor rights law (Wisconsin Examiner)
Georgia Senate OKs bill to ban state workers from gender affirming care under state health plan (Georgia Recorder)
What could happen to patients as 4 North Jersey nursing homes face Medicaid suspensions? (NorthJersey.com)

What We're Reading

Health news we've flagged from other outlets:

Some red states report zero abortions. Doctors and researchers say it's not true (NPR)
CDC study finds silent bird flu infections in dairy veterinarians (The New York Times)
Growing number of federal health agencies are combing grants for taboo words, unnerving researchers (Stat)

What Others are Reading

Most read stories on The Hill right now:

OPM directs agencies to fire government workers still on probation

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officials met with agency leaders across government Thursday and directed them to begin firing employees still … Read more

Stars flee Kennedy Center groups after Trump seizes chair

President Trump’s ascension to chair of the Kennedy Center on Wednesday led to multiple departures from the Washington, D.C., institution. Trump last … Read more

What People Think

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!

Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage.

Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩

Topics

Murkowski backs Kennedy for HHS secretary despite 'concerns'

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced she will support Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bid to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) despite having “concerns” about his views on vaccines ...
The Hill - 6d
New Kennedy Center board elects Trump as chairman

President Trump says he's now the chair of the Kennedy Center following a vote by its board after, in an unprecedented move, he named himself to the position. "It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of ...
The Hill - 6d
A Night at the Kennedy Center, Just After Trump’s Takeover

It’s still called the Kennedy Center. But after President Trump’s takeover, drag performers protested outside while audience members inside worried about what might be in store.
The New York Times - 4d
WATCH: Thieves begin targeting eggs

The bird flu outbreak has sent the price of eggs to record highs, leading to egg thefts in Seattle and Pennsylvania.
ABC News - Feb. 9
Early release of hundreds of prisoners begins

The first of up to 390 prisoners are being freed early in an attempt to ease overcrowding in jails.
BBC News - 10h
Ed Martin is the wrong person to investigate Biden-era prosecutors

Edward R. Martin, Jr., the newly-appointed interim United States attorney in Washington, D.C, has launched an investigation into whether his office, under Biden-era leadership, engaged in ...
The Hill - Feb. 8
How the New Trump Era Has Upended Florida Politics

The recent feud between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature over immigration is a sign of more jockeying to come among Republicans over the next two years.
The New York Times - Feb. 10
Will Las Vegas prefer plastic straws if Trump reverses Biden-era plan?

President Trump wants to reverse a Biden-era move to limit the production of plastic straws. CBS News' Andres Gutierrez reports on reactions from Las Vegas.
CBS News - Feb. 10
Potential mass layoffs at FBI as tensions run high during Trump era

President Trump said he intends to fire some FBI personnel who worked on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot investigations. CBS News' Nicole Sgaga reports.
CBS News - Feb. 10