As health secretary, Kennedy will oversee $1.7 trillion in spending on vaccines, food safety, and health insurance programs.

Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic and activist lawyer, was confirmed Thursday as the nation's new health secretary. The Senate voted largely along party lines to put Kennedy at the helm of the $1.7 trillion U.

McConnell's vote comes a day after he voted no on the confirmation of new National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday.

Republicans praise her business acumen and say she’s a good pick to change the course of American education. Sen. Bill Cassidy, chair of the health and education committee, met with McMahon in January and said she’s “prepared to return power to parents and reform an Education Department that has lost the plot.”

Democrats pressed the nominee on Trump’s plan to close the agency, spending cuts and the fate of Black history classes during her confirmation hearing Thursday.