It finally happened. On February 13, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stood in the Oval Office, raised his right hand, and officially became the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in was more than just a formal hand-on-the-Bible moment. It was a collision of two of the most famous and polarizing legacies in American politics.
You’ve got a Kennedy, the scion of the Democratic Party’s most iconic family, being sworn into a Republican cabinet by a conservative Supreme Court Justice. It sounds like a political thriller plot. But for Bobby Jr., this was the culmination of a 20-year prayer.
The ceremony was tight. It was emotional. It was also incredibly fast, occurring just hours after a nail-biter Senate confirmation.
The Oval Office Ceremony: Family, Faith, and Justice Gorsuch
The atmosphere was surprisingly intimate for such a high-stakes appointment. Kennedy wasn't alone. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, held the Bible. His children stood close by. President Trump watched from a few feet away, seemingly delighted to have finally brought "Bobby" into the fold.
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch administered the oath. He’s known for his strict adherence to the Constitution, which made the wording of the oath feel particularly heavy. Kennedy repeated the lines clearly: "I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
Honestly, the room felt smaller than it looks on TV. Kennedy actually shared a story right after the oath that hushed the room. He talked about how his first time in that very office was back in 1962. He was just a kid then, visiting his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. Back then, they talked about the environment and physical fitness.
Fast forward 63 years.
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He’s back in the same room, but now he’s the one in charge of the nation’s health. He mentioned that for two decades, he’s been praying for a chance to "end the childhood chronic disease epidemic." Whether you love him or hate him, you could tell he felt that this was a "pivotal historical" moment.
A 52-48 Nail-Biter: How the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Swearing In Almost Didn't Happen
The Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in nearly hit a wall in the Senate. The vote was 52 to 48. That is razor-thin for a cabinet position.
Basically, every single Democrat voted against him. They weren't just skeptical; they were loud about it. Sen. Ron Wyden called him the "least qualified nominee" he’d ever seen for the role. The drama mostly centered on his views on vaccines and "Big Pharma."
The real shocker? Mitch McConnell.
The former Republican leader, who survived polio as a child, broke ranks. He voted "Nay." He basically said he wouldn't condone the "re-litigation of proven cures." It was a rare moment of public defiance against Trump’s cabinet picks from within the GOP.
Despite the friction, the rest of the Republicans fell in line. They were sold on the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) vision. Sen. Mike Crapo argued that the department needed a "fresh perspective" to tackle obesity and processed foods.
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What This Means for the FDA and CDC Right Now
Now that the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in is over, the real work—or the real disruption—begins. Kennedy isn't just a figurehead. He’s now the boss of a $1.7 trillion budget.
That is a staggering amount of money.
He oversees 13 different agencies. We’re talking about:
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Medicare and Medicaid
Immediately after the ceremony, Trump signed an executive order to create the "President's Commission on Making America Healthy Again." Kennedy is the chair. His first order of business? Investigating why chronic illnesses have skyrocketed over the last few decades.
He’s talked about "clearing out" entire departments. He wants to look at the chemicals in our food and the way the NIH funds research. For the 80,000 employees at HHS, things are about to get very "wild," as Sen. Thom Tillis put it.
Addressing the Vaccine Elephant in the Room
You can’t talk about the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in without talking about vaccines. It’s the topic that dominated his hearings.
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During the process, he tried to strike a balance. He promised to follow the science but also insisted that parents need "informed choice." Some critics are terrified he will pull certain vaccines from the market or stop recommending them. Others think he’s just going to demand more transparency on side effects and clinical trials.
The reality is probably somewhere in the middle.
Kennedy promised Sen. Bill Cassidy that he wouldn't unilaterally change existing vaccine recommendations without rigorous review. But he’s also made it clear he wants to re-examine the legal protections that vaccine manufacturers currently enjoy.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
The Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in marks a massive shift in how the U.S. government views public health. It’s no longer just about treating disease; the focus is shifting toward "wellness" and the "root causes" of illness.
If you’re trying to keep up with what happens next, here are the three biggest things to watch:
- Personnel Changes: Keep an eye on the top spots at the FDA and CDC. Kennedy has hinted at a massive overhaul of leadership to remove "industry-friendly" officials.
- The Food Supply: Expect new regulations or at least very public "shaming" of ultra-processed food companies and companies using specific synthetic dyes.
- Research Funding: The NIH might see its budget redirected toward studying environmental toxins and chronic conditions like autism and autoimmune disorders.
The Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swearing in was just the starting gun. Whether his tenure leads to a healthier nation or a breakdown in public trust is the question that’s going to define the next four years.
If you want to stay informed on the specific policy changes coming out of the new HHS, you should regularly check the official HHS.gov "News" section. This is where the formal "Secretary’s Orders" and "Final Rules" are posted. Watching the federal register for "Proposed Rulemaking" regarding food additives and vaccine safety protocols will give you the earliest look at how the MAHA agenda is being codified into law.