Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the controversial environmental lawyer and prominent anti-vaccine advocate, has distanced himself from his previous anti-vaccine efforts as he seeks a major role in the United States government, according to newly released government ethics documents. The documents, published on Wednesday, detail Kennedy’s financial activities and his pledge to relinquish certain income sources if confirmed for the position of leader of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Donald Trump.
Kennedy, a high-profile figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has accumulated an estimated $10 million in income over the past year, primarily through speaking fees, leading the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, and legal fees from lawsuits concerning vaccine injuries. These forms were filed as part of Kennedy’s nomination process for the HHS position. Additionally, Kennedy has investments and other assets amounting to millions more. Despite his newfound government aspirations, Kennedy’s financial ties to the anti-vaccine cause remain substantial.
In a pledge tied to his potential confirmation, Kennedy has vowed to stop receiving fees from several ongoing vaccine lawsuits involving the U.S. government. He has also stated that he would forgo payment for cases under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which compensates individuals harmed by vaccines.
Kennedy’s spokesperson did not respond immediately to requests for comment regarding the filing.
As of December, Kennedy stated in his ethics filing that he had stepped down from his role as chairman and chief legal counsel of Children’s Health Defense, the nonprofit he founded, which has led multiple legal battles against the federal government concerning vaccine policy, including the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children. In 2023, Kennedy received a $326,000 salary for three months of work at the nonprofit.
However, despite these changes, Kennedy’s financial connections to anti-vaccine efforts remain intact. He will continue to receive compensation from legal cases unrelated to the U.S. government. Notably, he collects fees from a law firm that is suing Merck over its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil. Kennedy earned over $850,000 last year through this arrangement alone.
In addition, Kennedy will still receive royalties from books he has written, some of which have been criticised for spreading misinformation about vaccine safety and other health-related topics. Kennedy has acknowledged that he expects to earn at least $2 million in advances from two forthcoming books, although he has promised to halt any promotional activities or further work on these titles should he be confirmed as HHS Secretary.
Despite his vocal opposition to the pharmaceutical industry, Kennedy’s financial portfolio includes investments in biotech companies that he could be tasked with regulating if appointed to the HHS role. Kennedy has indicated plans to divest from some of these holdings, including up to $50,000 in Dragonfly Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cancer drugs, and up to $15,000 in CRISPR Therapeutics, which specialises in gene-editing technologies.
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Kennedy’s nomination will be scrutinised in an upcoming Senate Finance Committee hearing, scheduled for later this month. The lawyer-turned-politician has recently been active in Washington, attending events surrounding President Trump’s inauguration. On the day of Trump’s swearing-in, Kennedy hosted his own “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) ball, an event that has since become emblematic of his ongoing political alliance with Trump.
Kennedy’s MAHA movement, along with its associated merchandise, has proved financially lucrative, with Kennedy reporting $100,000 in profits from the sale of MAHA-branded items. The slogan has gained traction among Trump and Kennedy’s supporters, further solidifying their shared vision for the future.
As Kennedy positions himself for a significant role in the Trump administration, his ethics filing sheds light on the financial web connecting him to both the anti-vaccine movement and the pharmaceutical industry. While his distancing from direct anti-vaccine work may appease critics, his ongoing financial interests in the sector could fuel further scrutiny as his confirmation process unfolds.
