Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.

Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. is an American environmental attorney and public official who became the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in February 2025. His public career has included environmental advocacy, leadership of Children's Health Defense and an independent campaign in the 2024 presidential election.

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About Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United States · Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental attorney · 4 affiliations

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Also known as: RFK Jr.
Known for: U.S. health administration; Environmental law and water advocacy; Presidential politics; Vaccine-related advocacy and public controversy
Country: United States

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental attorney

At a glance

Kennedy was confirmed by the Senate in a 52-48 vote and sworn in as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on February 13, 2025.
His environmental-law career included work as an attorney for Riverkeeper and service as a co-founder and president of Waterkeeper Alliance.
He ran as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election before suspending his campaign and endorsing Donald Trump in August 2024.
Kennedy co-founded Children's Health Defense and served as its board chairman and chief legal counsel before resigning from those positions in December 2024.

Family and education

Kennedy was born in Washington, D.C., on January 17, 1954. He is a son of former U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, and a nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He graduated from Harvard University in 1976 and later studied at the London School of Economics, the University of Virginia School of Law and Pace University.

Environmental law and advocacy

Kennedy began working as an attorney for Riverkeeper in 1985. He later co-founded Waterkeeper Alliance and served as its president, making environmental law and water advocacy a central part of his professional career.

Health advocacy and public controversy

Kennedy co-founded Children's Health Defense and formerly served as its board chairman and chief legal counsel, leaving those positions in December 2024 according to his federal ethics agreement. His vaccine-related advocacy has been a significant source of public controversy. Associated Press reporting has characterized him as a prominent vaccine skeptic and anti-vaccine activist, while also noting his statement that he is not anti-vaccine.

2024 presidential campaign

Kennedy began the 2024 election cycle as a Democratic presidential candidate before launching an independent campaign on October 9, 2023. Federal Election Commission records listed his candidacy under the Independent designation. On August 23, 2024, he announced that he was suspending his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

The Senate confirmed Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services by a 52-48 vote on February 13, 2025, and he was subsequently sworn in as the department's 26th secretary. Official HHS records continued to identify him as secretary as of August 22, 2026.

Affiliations

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary 2025-02-13–present
Riverkeeper Attorney 1985
Waterkeeper Alliance Co-founder and former president
Children's Health Defense Co-founder; former board chairman and chief legal counsel 2024-12

Timeline

1954-01-17 Born in Washington, D.C.
1976 Graduated from Harvard University.
1985 Began working as an attorney for Riverkeeper.
2023-10-09 Launched an independent candidacy for the 2024 U.S. presidential election after ending his Democratic primary bid.
2024-08-23 Announced that he was suspending his 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.
2024-12 Resigned as chairman of the board and chief legal counsel of Children's Health Defense, according to his federal ethics agreement.
2025-02-13 Confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Secretary of Health and Human Services by a 52-48 vote and subsequently sworn in as the department's 26th secretary.

Additional verified details

Current context

Kennedy is the 26th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Verified against the official HHS leadership page; occupancy of this office is inherently time-sensitive.

Biographical facts

Kennedy was born on January 17, 1954, in Washington, D.C.
He is the son of former U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, and a nephew of President John F. Kennedy.
He graduated from Harvard University in 1976 and later studied at the London School of Economics, the University of Virginia School of Law and Pace University.