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

As HHS secretary, Kennedy has the authority, working with the FDA commissioner, to reorganize the agency without congressional approval. He says he wants to fully eliminate “entire departments” at the FDA, listing as a top target the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, which he says can’t be trusted to do its job.

Markey said that he will vote “no” to Kennedy’s appointment, and that he thinks after the Senate goes through its “advise and consent” role in the process and holds hearings on the