Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted photos Sunday of him and his family swimming in Rock Creek where swimming is not allowed “due to high bacteria levels.”

Due to contamination, swimming in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and nearby waters has been banned since 1971, NBC News said. A 2022 report from the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority showed "chronic elevated levels" of E.coli in Rock Creek. Sewage and stormwater has also added dangerous bacteria to the waters.

RFK Jr. swam in Washington D.C.'s polluted Rock Creek with his grandchildren, drawing backlash for ignoring health warnings. Critics say it undermines public trust; his team claims it was an environmental statement.