Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Sworn in as 26^th Secretary at HHS, President Trump Signs Executive Order to Make America Healthy Again

WASHINGTON – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today was sworn in as the 26^th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Oval Office by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch.

Immediately following the ceremony, President Trump with Secretary Kennedy by his side, signed the “Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission” Executive Order to investigate and address the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with a focus on childhood chronic disease.

“Thank you, President Trump, for your leadership, your confidence in me, and your deep concern for the health of the American people,” Secretary Kennedy said. “You have truly heard the calls of the millions of mothers who simply want the tools – and the truth – so they can make informed decisions for their children.”

“I have prayed each morning for the past two decades for God to put me in a position to solve the childhood chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy continued, “and now, thanks to you Mr. President, we will make this promise a reality.”

As Secretary, Mr. Kennedy will administer and oversee all HHS programs, operating divisions, and activities, including a nearly $2 trillion budget. These divisions include the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Through these divisions, HHS provides a wide variety of health and human services and conducts life-saving research for the nation, protecting and serving all Americans.

Secretary Kennedy comes from a long line of revered American politicians. He is the nephew of America’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy, and the son of his Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy has carried on his family’s legacy of public service by devoting himself to environmental causes and children’s health. He is one of our nation’s most influential environmentalists and a recipient of TIME Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet” and the Sartisky Peace Award.

Mr. Kennedy’s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment and children’s health stems from hundreds of successful legal actions. A trailblazing environmental lawyer, he has fought corrupt corporations, forced dozens of municipalities to comply with the Clean Water Act, and won many cases against corporate giants.

Over his 40-year career, Mr. Kennedy established two groundbreaking organizations. He founded the world’s largest clean water advocacy group, Waterkeeper Alliance, and served as its longtime chairman and attorney. It now protects 5.9 million square miles of waterways with more than 300 Waterkeeper groups and 1 million volunteers in the United States and 46 other countries.

He also founded Children’s Health Defense, a mass membership organization where he served as chairman and chief litigation counsel in its campaign to address childhood chronic disease and toxic exposures.

Mr. Kennedy is an award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in many national media outlets. Among his published books are two New York Times’ bestsellers: “Crimes Against Nature” (2005) and “The Real Anthony Fauci” (2021). His highly acclaimed autobiography is “American Values: Lessons I Learned from My Family” (2018).

After graduating from Harvard University, Mr. Kennedy studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. He also holds a master’s degree in environmental law from Pace University School of Law.

Mr. Kennedy is married to Cheryl Hines, a noted actress. Between them, the couple share seven children.

About HHS: The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.