Are the kennedys still in power
Executive summary
The Kennedy family no longer holds a coherent, dominant political "dynasty" in Washington, but members remain visible in public life and government: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serves as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (confirmed Feb. 13, 2025) and other Kennedys and their descendants are running for or holding various public roles in 2025–2026 (e.g., Jack Schlossberg’s 2025 House bid, Caroline Kennedy’s diplomatic and institutional activity) [1] [2] [3]. Coverage shows both continued influence in pockets of power and deep intra-family divisions that limit a single “Kennedys in power” narrative [4] [5].
1. The single most important fact: a Kennedy is in the cabinet
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in February 2025 by a 52–48 Senate vote, placing a member of the Kennedy family in a major federal executive role [1]. Government and mainstream outlets describe his appointment as historic because of the family name and the controversy around his record on vaccines and public health [1] [6].
2. Influence is real but selective — not a dynasty running government
While RFK Jr.’s cabinet role gives the family a clear seat at the table, reporting and profiles show influence is episodic and tied to individual ambitions rather than coordinated family power. Coverage notes Jack Schlossberg’s congressional candidacy and Caroline Kennedy’s institutional roles in diplomacy and the JFK Library sphere, but these are discrete public-service moves rather than signs of a monolithic family power bloc [2] [3] [7].
3. Family fractures constrain collective political power
Several outlets document an unprecedented public rift among Kennedys, especially between Caroline Kennedy and RFK Jr., which has undercut any unified family brand and limited their ability to act as a coordinated political force [4] [5]. People and news reporting emphasize that internal opposition and a sprawling modern family — “more than 100 adults,” Caroline Kennedy remarked — have diluted the old, tightly organized political machine [5].
4. Policy power vs. symbolic power: the distinction matters
RFK Jr.’s HHS role confers real policy power over public health agencies, and reporting shows that his actions prompted resignations at the Centers for Disease Control and drew broad criticism from scientists and health professionals, signaling concrete policy consequences [1]. At the same time, much of the Kennedys’ broader influence now functions symbolically—heritage, awards, and cultural capital—such as the JFK Profile in Courage Award and library activities, which are different from governing control [7] [8].
5. Media narratives split between nostalgia and alarm
Coverage ranges from nostalgic profiles of the family tree and the next generation (Town & Country, Britannica) to alarm and policy critique centered on RFK Jr.’s ideology and effect on public health [9] [10] [1]. Some outlets highlight rehabilitation of RFK Jr. within conservative circles and his role in delivering votes for the Trump coalition; others focus on scientists’ and Nobel laureates’ pleas to oppose his nomination [11] [1].
6. What “still in power” can mean today
If “in power” means holding national office or shaping policy, the answer is: partially — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds a cabinet position with tangible responsibilities [1]. If it means wielding unified political control or maintaining the multigenerational, bipartisan dynasty of mid-20th-century Kennedys, the evidence points to fragmentation and diminished collective political dominance [4] [5].
7. What reporting doesn’t answer or doesn’t mention
Available sources do not mention any coordinated Kennedy family strategy to reclaim a unified political hegemony, nor do they provide evidence that the family as a whole is exercising synchronized influence across branches of government (not found in current reporting). Detailed proprietary polling on public trust in the Kennedy name post-2024/25 is also not present in the supplied material (not found in current reporting).
8. Bottom line for readers
A Kennedy is indeed “in power” in the narrow, factual sense — RFK Jr. heads HHS and family members are running for or holding public roles — but reporting also makes clear that the Kennedys are no longer a single, cohesive political dynasty and that internal disputes and controversy limit their collective sway [1] [2] [4].