Named to lead the nation's sprawling Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has big ideas for busting public health policy norms. Kennedy himself has falsely claimed that vaccines cause autism,

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.

Sen. Ed Markey vowed to do everything in his power to stand in the way of the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy to lead the nation’s health care system. Markey, D-Mass., who is chair of the Senate Health,

If confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wouldn’t have the authority to ban vaccines — but health experts warn there are other ways he could exert influence over them.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could use Health and Human Services' vast bureaucracy to put a distinct stamp on vaccine policy, drug approvals and food regulation if he's confirmed. But with so many legal requirements and bureaucratic layers baked into the process,