RFK Jr. would also have the power, along with the FDA commissioner, to slow down or hamper the process by which new vaccines are evaluated, approved, and recommended. That could discourage pharmaceutical companies from developing new or reformulated vaccines.

As President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the CDC, Dave Weldon, a former congressman from Florida and a physician, is positioned as an important anti-vaccine ally for Robert F. Kennedy Jr ., Trump's pick for health secretary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a key figure in protests over California vaccine laws. He could set U.S. health policy in the Trump administration.

RFK Jr. is controversial due to his vaccine skepticism, but nearly half of Americans backed him for HHS secretary.

Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration as attorney general and was replaced by Pam Bondi, as Trump plans to make RFK Jr. his secretary of health and human services and Pete Hegseth his defense secretary,

Petersburg's congressional delegation says they hope current bipartisan support keeps the city's pharmaceutical cluster off fiscal chopping block.

In a video that was widely shared online this week, amid widespread discussion of Trump's cabinet picks, commentators claimed that Kennedy had disparaged Trump's supporters too, saying he called them "belligerent idiots," "outright Nazis," and "bootlickers."

Opinion: RFK Jr. should look to what his uncle might have done: a large-scale public health program meeting people where they are.

His past pro-choice views could be a bigger problem than what he believes about vaccines or food, but Kennedy may agree to kowtow to his new allies.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was once known for environmental law. These days, he's more famous for his anti-vaxxer views and other fringe medical theories.

RFK Jr.'s controversial views have received criticism since he was picked by Donald Trump to lead HHS -- but he's also receiving support from some unexpected sources.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has expressed opposition to gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and questioned evidence linking HIV to AIDS, two issues that critics say should give senators second thoughts about confirming him as Health and Human Services secretary.