Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making significant changes to his professional endeavors as he pursues a leadership role within the nation's top health agency under President Donald Trump. According to government ethics documents released on Wednesday, Kennedy has earned approximately $10 million in income over the past year from various sources, including speaking fees, leading an anti-vaccine nonprofit, and legal fees.
As part of his nomination process, Kennedy has pledged to cease collecting payments on certain vaccine lawsuits involving the U.S. government. He has a background as a lawyer specializing in lawsuits related to environmental and vaccine injury claims against major corporations, but has committed to refraining from receiving payment for claims against the U.S. under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation program.
Recent developments show that Kennedy has stepped down from his roles as chairman and chief legal counsel for Children's Health Defense, the nonprofit organization he founded that initiated lawsuits against the federal government concerning vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine authorization for children. While he will no longer draw a salary from this organization, Kennedy will continue to benefit financially from referral fees for legal cases unrelated to the U.S. government, such as those involving lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies like Merck.
Additionally, Kennedy will still receive royalties from his books, some of which have been criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccine safety and other health topics. Despite his past criticisms of the pharmaceutical industry, Kennedy holds investments in biotech companies, which he would oversee if appointed to lead the Health and Human Services Department. He has indicated plans to divest from certain pharmaceutical companies to avoid conflicts of interest.
A Senate finance committee hearing for Kennedy is scheduled for later this month, as he navigates the nomination process. Kennedy's involvement in recent events, including hosting a “Make America Healthy Again” ball during Trump's inauguration, has garnered attention. The slogan “MAHA” associated with the event has gained popularity among supporters of both Trump and Kennedy.
Furthermore, Kennedy has reported profits from the sale of MAHA merchandise, adding to his diverse sources of income. These recent developments underscore Kennedy's efforts to distance himself from his anti-vaccine work and align with the expectations of assuming a leadership role in the nation's health agency.
