RFK Jr. is in charge of vaccines. What now?

In terms of budget, the largest federal department in the US isn't the Department of Defense. It's this one, the Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.

And as of February 13th, it's being run by this man. There's no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He became a political force over the last 2 years with a promise to make America healthy again. But before his confirmation, over 22, 000 doctors signed a letter urging the Senate not to confirm him. The letter called Kennedy unqualified and actively dangerous due to his long history spreading misinformation about vaccines. Today, he says, "I'm supportive of vaccines with a qualifier.

I want good science." And now he's seated at the helm of a department that oversees the exact science that he's been undermining for years. So, as health secretary, what sort of power does someone who doesn't trust the science have over vaccine policy in the United States? HHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, made up 25% of all federal spending in 2024. This includes funding for Medicare and Medicaid, both multi-billion dollar federal insurance programs. Together, they provide health insurance for nearly 40% of Americans.

There's virtually no part of the health system that isn't directly impacted by HHS. Secretary Kathleen Sibelius speaks from firsthand experience. She served under Barack Obama in the role. The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees 13 divisions. Here's Medicare and Medicaid under one agency, but there are at least three others that you're likely familiar with.

One is the NIH, National Institutes of Health, the world's premier research entity. It does

funding for research. It does research itself. coordinates research efforts not only in the United States but all over the world. Another is the CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention. They're the nation's in many ways the world's disease detectors. And there's also the FDA, Food and Drug Administration.