Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to speak at a Children’s Health Defense conference taking place Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Washington. Kennedy founded the nonprofit organization in 2015 and served as its chair until December 2024, during which time he received a six-figure salary and assisted in filing numerous lawsuits related to state-level vaccine policies.
The appearance represents a notable shift in Kennedy’s public positioning regarding the organization. During his confirmation hearings for the Health and Human Services position earlier this year, Kennedy sought to distance himself from Children’s Health Defense and his previous anti-vaccine activism in order to secure Republican support for his nomination. He stated his support for vaccines during questioning from senators, including an exchange in which Senator Bernie Sanders referenced merchandise sold by the group.
Children’s Health Defense has been a focal point of scrutiny due to its positions on vaccine safety and efficacy. The organization’s leadership has gained increased access to political channels through Kennedy’s role in the Trump administration. Senior staff members, including attorney Mary Holland, have attended significant gatherings and obtained positions within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy took a leave of absence from the group during his presidential campaign and severed formal ties before the Trump administration began. His keynote address at the conference represents his first public embrace of the organization since assuming leadership of HHS, marking a departure from his earlier assurances to lawmakers.
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