The Senate Finance Committee voted to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Tuesday morning, removing a key hurdle on the controversial nominee’s road to confirmation.
The committee voted 14-13 to recommend Kennedy’s bid to the full Senate for a floor vote. Senate Democrats are expected to unanimously oppose Kennedy, which means he can lose the support of three Republicans at most.
Kennedy is one of President Donald Trump’s most contentious nominees along with Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, who is set for a committee vote Tuesday afternoon. Kennedy’s nomination as the nation’s top health official has been extremely controversial due in part to his past pro-abortion record and skepticism of vaccines.
During last week’s confirmation hearing, Kennedy emphasized that he would enforce Trump’s pro-life policies in response to a line of questioning from Republican senators.
“I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year. I agree with him that the states should control abortion,” Kennedy asserted. “President Trump has told me that he wants to end late term abortions and that he wants to protect conscience exemptions and that he wants to end federal funding for abortions here or abroad.”
“I serve at the pleasure of the president. I’m gonna implement his policies,” he added.
Regarding his stance on abortion, Democrats questioned Kennedy on whether he was selling out on the issue for a cabinet position in the Trump administration. While he publicly supported late-term abortions last year, Kennedy reiterated during his confirmation hearing that all abortions are tragedies.
Despite opposition from former Vice President Mike Pence’s conservative group Advancing American Freedom on the nomination, more Republicans appear to be rallying behind Kennedy out of loyalty to Trump. Senator Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), once seen as a potential “no” vote on the committee, backed Kennedy on Monday.
Other Republicans are more skeptical. Senator Bill Cassidy (R., La.), also a doctor, said he had been “struggling” with Kennedy’s bid after the nominee refused to recant his past criticism of the alleged link between vaccines and autism.
“Does a 70-year-old man, 71-year-old man who spent decades criticizing vaccines, and who’s financially invested in finding fault with vaccines — can he change his attitudes and approach now that he’ll have the most important position influencing vaccine policy in the United States?” Cassidy asked.
“I’ve got to figure that out for my vote,” he said.
Cassidy ultimately voted in favor of Kennedy after he spoke with him and the White House over the weekend and Tuesday morning. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes,” the senator posted on X shortly before the committee vote.
Democrats strongly opposed the nominee’s bid over his anti-vaccine rhetoric and advocacy.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, bizarrely interrogated Kennedy on why a nonprofit he founded sold baby onesies that say, “Unvaxxed, Unafraid” and “No Vax, No Problem.” Kennedy resigned from the board months ago.
Even Kennedy’s law school roommate, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.), pressed him on casting doubt over vaccine safety and efficacy in the past. “Frankly, you frighten people,” the senator asserted.
Both Sanders and Whitehouse voted against Kennedy.
Throughout the hearing, Kennedy told senators he is not an anti-vaccine proponent and that his children are vaccinated.
Meanwhile, lawmakers who vote against the HHS secretary nomination are at risk of losing reelection. Kennedy’s former running mate and Silicon Valley lawyer, Nicole Shanahan, threatened to fund primary challengers of 13 senators if they don’t support Kennedy.
She proceeded to name senators on both sides of the political aisle, including Cassidy and Sanders.
“This is a bipartisan message and it comes directly from me. While Bobby may be willing to play nice, I won’t if you vote against him,” Shanahan warned.
Kennedy previously ran for the 2024 presidency as a Democrat-turned-independent before he ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump in the final three months of the electoral cycle. Together, Trump and Kennedy created the “Make America Healthy Again” movement to combat the “chronic disease epidemic” that has plagued the country for decades.