Kennedy Faces Key Senate Vote in Contentious Health Secretary Confirmation/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces a crucial Senate Finance Committee vote Tuesday as he seeks confirmation as Trump’s health secretary. While Republicans mostly back him, some GOP senators remain undecided due to his controversial vaccine stance. Democrats oppose him, warning of potential financial conflicts of interest.
RFK Jr.’s Health Secretary Confirmation: Quick Looks
- Senate Finance Committee votes Tuesday, deciding whether RFK Jr. moves to a full Senate vote.
- Republicans mostly support Kennedy, but several key GOP senators remain undecided.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, has expressed concerns about Kennedy’s vaccine rhetoric.
- Democrats argue Kennedy could financially benefit from changes to vaccine policies.
- RFK Jr. has made millions referring vaccine injury lawsuits and pledged to give fees to his son.
- Democratic Senators Cory Booker & John Fetterman are being lobbied to vote yes.
- If the committee rejects Kennedy, Senate Majority Leader John Thune could still force a full vote.
Kennedy Faces Key Senate Vote in Contentious Health Secretary Confirmation
RFK Jr. Faces Senate Test Over Health Secretary Role
Will RFK Jr. Secure GOP Support?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, faces his first major hurdle Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee votes on whether to advance his confirmation to the full Senate.
While most Republicans support Kennedy, some remain undecided, including:
- Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, who challenged Kennedy’s vaccine claims during hearings.
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), & Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who previously opposed Trump’s defense secretary.
Cassidy, who has long championed vaccines, pressed Kennedy to disavow the false claim that vaccines cause autism—but Kennedy refused.
“Your past, undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments, concerns me,” Cassidy told Kennedy.
As of Monday evening, Cassidy said he was “still working through” his decision.
Democrats Oppose Kennedy, Cite Financial Conflicts
Democrats strongly oppose Kennedy, citing:
- His history of anti-vaccine advocacy.
- His financial ties to vaccine injury lawsuits.
“You would be empowered to make decisions that could result in significant financial compensation for your family,” Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote in a letter to Kennedy.
Kennedy admitted he made $2.5 million referring vaccine-related lawsuits but promised to donate future legal fees to his son.
Can RFK Jr. Win Over Any Democrats?
Kennedy’s allies are pressuring two Senate Democrats to break ranks:
- Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)—has praised Kennedy’s push for healthier foods.
- Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)—has not ruled out supporting Kennedy.
However, Fetterman recently told Fox News that the confirmation was “challenging.”
Republicans Hope to Avoid a GOP Revolt
- If three Republican senators oppose Kennedy, he could lose the vote if Democrats stay united.
- However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) could still force a full Senate vote, even if Kennedy is rejected by the committee.
RFK Jr. & Trump’s ‘MAHA’ Movement
Kennedy, once a Democratic presidential candidate, dropped out to support Trump in exchange for a top administration role.
Together, they launched “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA)—a movement uniting:
- Conservatives opposed to vaccines.
- Liberals advocating for healthier food & medicine reform.
What’s Next?
- Tuesday’s vote determines if Kennedy advances to the full Senate.
- If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee the $1.7 trillion HHS, including vaccine guidelines & public health policies.
- If rejected, Trump’s team may face pressure to choose a less controversial nominee.
For now, RFK Jr.’s fate rests on a few key GOP senators.
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