Here's What RFK Jr. Can and Can't Do if Confirmed as HHS Chief

Kennedy has "extensive power" to reorganize the federal workforce, but it isn't unlimited, experts say.

Law professor Lawrence Gostin : "He can definitely reorganize.. but it's going to be hard to shut entire agencies down" Former CMS administrator Tom Scully , JD , said if he was in government now he would probably eliminate 25% of the offices he saw on the org chart.

As HHS secretary, Kennedy has "soft power" over heads of other agencies, including CMS , FDA , NIH , and CDC .

FDA approvals are granted at the center director level, which is not currently a political appointment, but the HHS secretary does make the final decision.

Kennedy has appeared to moderate his stance, telling Republican senators that he won't take away vaccines and that he just wants to make safety data more readily available.

"It's hard to make reform inside government.. You can do window dressing, but substantive reform is very, very hard," Jha said.

Jha: "The biggest bulwark against really egregious behavior is likely to come from the courts" Kennedy 's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday .