Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 52 to 48.[1][2] He heads the agency that oversees the FDA, the CDC, and the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than 140 million Americans, with expenditures exceeding three trillion dollars.[1][2] In August 2025, he announced a significant cut in funding for mRNA vaccine research and development.[3] He cut funding of $500 million to develop mRNA vaccines.[6] He fired all 17 members of the CDC advisory committee responsible for vaccination recommendations and plans to appoint vaccine skeptics.[6] He fired CDC Director Susan Monarez after 29 days in office.[6] More than 1,000 department employees called on Kennedy to resign because of the threat to public health.[6]