Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., born on January 17, 1954, is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, and activist. A member of the Kennedy family, he is the son of Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy began his career as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. He later transitioned to environmental advocacy, working with organizations like Riverkeeper and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He founded the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global clean water advocacy group. Kennedy has also represented Indigenous groups in Latin America and Canada, advocating for their legal and treaty rights.
Kennedy is currently the 26th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, assuming office on February 13, 2025. In this role, he oversees HHS programs and activities, including a budget of nearly $2 trillion. Recent news indicates that policies driven by Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative are gaining traction in state legislatures, particularly concerning food additives. Newly obtained documents have also brought scrutiny to Kennedy's past activities, with some members of Congress alleging that he misled the Senate during his confirmation hearings regarding a 2019 trip to Samoa.