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.

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

Donald Trump’s administration will likely support global immunization efforts, even though his proposed secretary of health and human services has voiced skepticism about such initiatives, according to the head of an organization that helps to vaccinate more than half of the world’s children.

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.

Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from consideration as attorney general and was replaced by Pam Bondi, as Trump names RFK Jr., Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard and Kristi Noem to key posts.