Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny over $4M in book advances

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly received approximately $4 million in book advances and at least $270,000 in gifts since entering office in 2025, according to financial disclosures and investigations. Most of these funds originated from allies within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

The book advances are for two titles to be published by Skyhorse Publishing, owned by Tony Lyons. Lyons is a longtime associate of Kennedy and leads several MAHA-related entities that accept sponsorships from organizations with interests impacting HHS decisions. Ethics experts have suggested these payments may violate federal anti-corruption rules that prohibit government officials from personally profiting from their positions.

Additionally, Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, reportedly accepted roughly $210,000 in consulting fees from MAHA Action, a nonprofit also led by Lyons. While ethics experts have raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, a spokesperson for the HHS stated that Kennedy’s conduct complies with all applicable federal ethics laws and financial disclosure requirements.