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One year on, Kennedy's HHS tenure marked by clashes
Twelve months after President Donald Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the partnership has unraveled amid policy reversals, congressional scrutiny, and growing frustration among supporters.
Campaign promises collide with political reality
Kennedy, the public face of the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, joined Trump's 2024 ticket to champion vaccine choice, environmental safety, and chronic disease prevention. His appointment was hailed as a bridge to voters disillusioned with conventional health policies, including parents, environmentalists, and wellness advocates.
Yet within months, Kennedy's agenda faced resistance from Congress, the courts, and the White House itself. This week, lawmakers from both parties grilled him over his support for Trump's executive order expanding domestic production of glyphosate, a herbicide his base has long opposed as carcinogenic.
"This seemed like an opportunity for you to really stand up for your agenda," Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii told Kennedy during a hearing. "I've got a lot of friends back in Hawaii who supported you because of issues such as this, and they were hurt, shocked, confused when you were explicitly in favor of Trump's executive order. What do you say to those folks?"
Kennedy responded that he had "made [his] displeasure clear" to the president but framed the order as a national security necessity.
Vaccine rollbacks spark backlash and legal setbacks
Kennedy's most contentious moves targeted U.S. vaccine policy. Within weeks of taking office, he overhauled the federal advisory committee on immunizations, replacing scientists with vaccine skeptics. The panel halted recommendations for the Hepatitis B vaccine in newborns, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduced the number of required childhood shots.
Kennedy also removed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to endorse the panel's changes, leaving the agency leaderless for months. The shifts coincided with the nation's worst measles outbreak in decades, with over 4,000 cases reported in 2025 and 2026, including two child fatalities in Texas.
While MAHA supporters celebrated the changes as a victory for "informed consent," public health experts warned of eroding trust in vaccines. Jacqueline Capriotti, a former Kennedy campaign staffer, defended the approach: "It just gives people a little more choice or time to make those decisions on their own."
Courts and Trump administration rein in Kennedy's agenda
In March, a federal judge blocked key vaccine policies, ruling that the revamped advisory panel lacked qualified members. HHS signaled plans to appeal but has not yet acted. Meanwhile, Kennedy's allies confirmed that the White House ordered him to soften his stance on vaccines ahead of the November midterms, calling the issue "political poison."
Republican pollster Whit Ayres noted that most Americans support vaccination, making Kennedy's position a liability. "It's almost a blessing," said Abby McCloskey, a GOP strategist, referring to the court ruling. "It takes it off RFK Jr.'s plate and gives him reason to not talk about it."
Kennedy's April congressional testimony reflected the shift. He declared that all children should receive the measles vaccine, a reversal from his earlier skepticism.
Food safety and chronic disease initiatives face hurdles
With vaccine policies stalled, Kennedy pivoted to other MAHA priorities, including overhauling the U.S. dietary guidelines and pressuring food companies to eliminate synthetic dyes. However, these efforts have clashed with Trump's pro-business agenda, particularly the glyphosate order, which Kennedy ultimately endorsed.
"I don't think he had a choice," said Jeff Hutt, a former MAHA Institute director. "I wish he had not done it. That's how most people felt."
Zen Honeycutt, founder of the advocacy group Moms Across America, accused chemical companies of influencing the decision. "It seemed like they wrote the order for them," she said, though she maintained faith in Kennedy's commitment to children's health.
An HHS official told the BBC that the glyphosate order was necessary to avoid "severe" economic impacts on agriculture. The agency's new dietary guidelines emphasize whole fruits and vegetables to reduce reliance on "chemical-intensive" farming.
Political future hinges on midterm messaging
Despite setbacks, Trump appears to view Kennedy as a valuable surrogate. The health secretary is slated to campaign in swing states this fall and launch a podcast featuring "fearless conversations" with independent doctors. He has also announced initiatives to study microplastics and combat chronic disease.
Yet strategists question whether Kennedy can move beyond his anti-vaccine reputation. "He's so widely associated with that advocacy that redefining himself will be difficult," Ayres said.
McCloskey argued the Trump administration is missing an opportunity to engage MAHA voters on less polarizing issues like nutrition. "What's missing is the next suite of concrete policy items," she said.
A Politico poll found that 47% of MAHA-aligned voters believe Trump and Kennedy have fallen short, compared to 44% who approve. Hutt acknowledged Kennedy's limitations but predicted his supporters would remain loyal. "They understand his ability to drive change is limited by how much rope the president gives him," he said.
