Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in February 2025, many people have noticed his voice sounds quivering and gravely, especially when speaking in public.

Kennedy's voice will be front and center during the Sept. 4, 2025, public Senate Finance Committee hearing , where he's expected to face tough questions on recent controversial decisions about vaccines , and last week's departures of several prominent officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kennedy has a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that impacts the muscles in the voice box, also known as the larynx, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

The ra

See Full Page