Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted photos of himself swimming with his grandchildren in Rock Creek, Washington, D.C., on May 11, despite warnings about high bacteria levels that deem the waterway unsafe. The images, shared on social media, showed Kennedy fully submerged during a Mother’s Day family outing at Dumbarton Oaks Park.
The 71-year-old official captioned the images: “Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek.” One image depicted Kennedy completely underwater in the creek, while others showed interactions with family members near the contaminated stream.
The National Park Service prohibits swimming and wading in Rock Creek due to health hazards. The agency warns visitors on its website that Rock Creek contains high bacteria levels and other pathogens that make water contact risky to human and pet health. The advisory states that all waterways in the District are under a swim ban, which includes wading.
Due to contamination, swimming in D.C.’s waterways has been banned for over 50 years. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that Rock Creek is affected by “fecal contamination” from sewage and elevated levels of bacteria, including E. coli, making water contact potentially harmful.
Concerns are heightened at Dumbarton Oaks Park, located downstream from Piney Branch, which receives approximately 40 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater overflow annually, according to the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. In 2015, the D.C. Department of Energy and the Environment found bacteria levels in Rock Creek 2,420 times higher than the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency, which is 1,600 colonies per 3.3 ounces.
It remains unclear if Kennedy was aware of violating park regulations.
Kennedy’s decision to swim in these waters draws attention due to his role as the country’s top health official. President Donald Trump appointed Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year, and Kennedy’s appointment was met with concern from lawmakers regarding his unconventional health perspectives. The Senate confirmed him in February 2025.
In a recent Fox News interview, Kennedy described himself and his HHS allies as “renegades” and “juggernauts against convention.” His swim in Rock Creek aligns with this self-image, as he ignored health warnings about the creek’s contamination.
This event adds to a series of unusual activities, drawing attention to Kennedy’s actions. Last year, he disclosed transporting a roadkill bear cub from upstate New York, initially planning to skin and eat it but leaving it in New York City’s Central Park. His daughter mentioned Kennedy using a chainsaw to remove the head of a dead whale in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and transporting it back to New York on his minivan’s roof.
During the 1970s, Kennedy became known for daring exploits, including consuming bushmeat and experiencing illnesses while traveling through South America and embarking on African safaris.
Kennedy has openly discussed his health challenges. Court documents revealed doctors informed him in 2010 that a parasitic worm had entered and died in his brain. The condition, known as neurocysticercosis, is linked to pork tapeworm larvae and can cause various symptoms. A spokesperson told The New York Times in 2024 that the issue was resolved over a decade ago.
Kennedy has also experienced mercury poisoning, attributed to consuming fish with high mercury content. He stated that tests showed “sky-high” mercury levels in his blood, requiring chelation therapy for metal removal. He claims full recovery from these incidents.
Rock Creek’s contamination results from D.C.’s aging sewer system, with some sections over 200 years old. Reporting by Marchant Wentworth of Wentworth Green Strategies notes that Rock Creek’s tributaries run near century-old, cracked, and leaking sewage pipes. The issue worsens after heavy rain but remains hazardous in dry conditions. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority recently discovered a 200-foot-long fracture in a sewer tunnel’s ceiling near Rock Creek.
City authorities plan to build a tunnel to reduce sewage flow into Piney Branch and Rock Creek, though the project remains incomplete. Despite posted risk signage and federal warnings, some individuals still swim or wade in the contaminated waters.
Kennedy’s office did not respond to requests for comment regarding his decision to swim in Rock Creek or potential health concerns.
Kennedy’s choice to engage in activities like swimming in questionable waters coincides with his recent move to address the worst measles outbreak in 25 years by having government health agencies explore alternative treatments, such as Vitamin A.
