DossierPoliticsUnited StatesUpdated October 27, 2026
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is an attorney and activist who founded the Waterkeeper Alliance and Children's Health Defense. He ran as an independent candidate for President of the United States in the 2024 election, with Nicole Shanahan as his vice-presidential running mate. As HHS Secretary he has promoted policies on chronic disease prevention, nutrition education and women's health.
- Country
- United States
- Field
- Politics
- Leaning
- Not assessed
- Fact checks
- 1
Fact checks
Record
Controversy
Remarks on Arab societies
Kennedy said in a speech to the Kent County GOP in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that Arabs 'don't produce science' and have created 'stagnant societies'; the Washington Post reported he falsely claimed modern Arab Muslims do not produce prize-worthy science or literature. [1]
Controversy · March 1, 2026
Legal challenge to vaccine policy changes
A Massachusetts judge ruled in favour of medical organisations suing Kennedy over several of his changes to federal vaccine policy, including the childhood vaccine schedule and the composition of the ACIP committee. [2]
Affiliations
US Department of Health and Human Services
The federal department responsible for health and human services; Kennedy heads it as Secretary. [2]
Waterkeeper Alliance
An environmental organisation; Kennedy founded it, according to a congressional witness biography and a news report. [3]
Children's Health Defense
An anti-vaccine group; Kennedy founded it, and it has had a lawsuit pending against a number of news organisations. [3]
Sources
Profiles are compiled from public reporting and updated as new information appears.
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