All of the Democrats in the Senate voted against Kennedy. Still, they were joined by only one Republican senator: former Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, R–Kentucky, who survived childhood polio and was critical of Kennedy’s past anti-vaccine work. (A nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, he founded the group Children’s Health Defense, which has been critical of vaccines.)

During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy stressed that he was not anti-vaccine and that he merely wanted more stringent studies and safety tests.

Overall, Trump’s pick of Kennedy sparked controversy, with critics pointing out past statements about fluoride in drinking water and the need to eliminate whole departments at the FDA.