Trump Health Secretary nominee RFK Jr clears Senate Finance Committee confirmation vote

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. volition beforehand to the adjacent measurement successful his effort to go Donald Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary. The vaccine skeptic and biology crusader who ran for the White House successful 2024 earlier ending his bid and endorsing Trump sustained his bid for a furniture presumption successful the 47th president's administration.

The 27-member sheet of 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats connected the Senate concern committee approved Kennedy's advancement by a portion enactment ballot of 14-13

Kennedy's arguable information has progressed dilatory arsenic the president's different choices person been moving done the precocious enclosure and respective person been confirmed and sworn in. Even Trump's arguable Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, made it past committee and yet was confirmed with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. 

TRUMP HEALTH SECRETARY NOMINEE RFK JR. SURVIVES HEATED HEARINGS

Kennedy survived back-to-back combustible Senate confirmation hearings past week, wherever Trump's nominee to pb 18 almighty national agencies that oversee the nation's nutrient and wellness faced plentifulness of verbal fireworks implicit past arguable comments, including his repeated claims successful caller years linking vaccines to autism, which person been debunked by technological research.

TRUMP HEALTH SECRETARY NOMINEE RFK JR. SURVIVES HEATED HEARINGS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation proceeding connected Jan. 29, 2025, successful Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

During the hearings, Democrats besides spotlighted Kennedy's work for years arsenic seat oregon main ineligible counsel for Children's Health Defense, the nonprofit enactment helium founded that has advocated against vaccines and sued the national authorities galore times, including a situation implicit the authorization of the COVID vaccine for children.

While nary Democrats connected the Senate Finance Committee were expected to ballot to corroborate Kennedy, the spotlight was connected Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana doc and seat of the Senate Health Committee.

Cassidy issued a past infinitesimal endorsement indicating a enactment enactment ballot for Kennedy.

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"Your past of undermining assurance successful vaccines with unfounded oregon misleading arguments concerns me," Cassidy told Kennedy astatine the extremity of Thursday's confirmation hearing.

Cassidy's bureau confirmed Sunday evening that the legislator and Kennedy had been speaking earlier that day. 

The 71-year-old Kennedy, a scion of the nation's astir storied governmental dynasty, launched a long-shot run for the Democrat statesmanlike information against President Joe Biden successful April 2023. But six months later, helium switched to an autarkic tally for the White House.

Kennedy made large headlines again past August erstwhile helium dropped his statesmanlike bid and endorsed Trump. While Kennedy had agelong identified arsenic a Democrat and repeatedly invoked his precocious father, erstwhile Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and his precocious uncle, erstwhile President John F. Kennedy – who were some assassinated successful the 1960s – Kennedy successful caller years built relationships with far-right leaders owed successful portion to his high-profile vaccine skepticism.

Trump announced soon aft the November predetermination that helium would nominate Kennedy to his Cabinet to tally HHS.

Kennedy, whose outspoken views connected Big Pharma and the nutrient manufacture person besides sparked controversy, has said helium aims to displacement the absorption of the agencies helium would oversee toward promotion of a steadfast lifestyle, including overhauling dietary guidelines, taking purpose astatine ultra-processed foods and getting to the basal causes of chronic diseases.

"Our state is not going to beryllium destroyed due to the fact that we get the marginal taxation complaint wrong. It is going to beryllium destroyed if we get this contented wrong," Kenendy said Thursday arsenic helium pointed to chronic diseases. "And I americium successful a unsocial presumption to beryllium capable to halt this epidemic."

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With Republicans controlling the Senate by a 53-47 majority, Kennedy tin lone spend to suffer the enactment of 3 GOP senators if Democrats unite against his confirmation connected the level of the chamber.