Trump transition: Trump nominates RFK Jr. for HHS secretary, Matt Gaetz as attorney general

Trump officially announced he has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Health and Human Services secretary.

"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," he said in a statement, adding that Kennedy will "restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency."

The position requires Senate confirmation.

Kennedy is an anti-vaccine activist who founded the Children's Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine nonprofit that has campaigned against immunizations and other public health measures like water fluoridation.

MORE | Trump picks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health and Human Services

When asked if he believes Matt Gaetz could be confirmed as attorney general, the incoming Senate majority leader told ABC News he doesn't know until they start the Senate confirmation process.

"I don't know until we start the process, and that's what we intend to do with him and all the other potential nominees," Sen. John Thune said. "None of this stuff's formal yet, but you know, when it is, we expect our committees to do their jobs and provide the advice and consent that is required under the Constitution."

Gaetz, who had been under a House ethics investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, resigned from Congress on Wednesday following his nomination for attorney general by Trump. Sources told ABC News the committee was preparing to meet this week to deliberate over whether to release a final report on the matter.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has called for the report's release, saying Gaetz's resignation raises "serious questions" about its contents.

"We cannot allow this valuable information from a bipartisan investigation to be hidden from the American people," Durbin said in a statement Thursday.

House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., refused to discuss the confidentiality of the investigation into Gaetz.

"What happens in ethics is confidential," Guest told reporters Thursday.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump's pick for attorney general, offered his resignation from Congress earlier Wednesday -- effective immediately, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced.

Johnson said the resignation took him by "surprise" but that the Florida congressman did so to "start the clock" on the process for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to call a special election to fill his vacancy.

"We're grateful for that so we move forward," Johnson said.

Trump has nominated Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general, he posted on his social media.

Gaetz was seen traveling with Trump in the motorcade Wednesday during the president-elect's visit to Washington, D.C.

The role is a Senate-confirmed appointment.