RFK Jr. advances toward Health Secretary confirmation vote

RFK Jr. advances toward Health Secretary confirmation after Senate committee vote, despite vaccine safety concerns from Democrats.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the Secretary of Health and Human Services has advanced after a pivotal vote in the Senate Finance Committee. The development is crucial for his potential confirmation by the full Senate.

The support from swing Republican Senator Bill Cassidy followed extensive negotiations with Kennedy and the Trump administration. These discussions resulted in commitments to uphold current federal vaccine recommendations and maintain information on vaccine safety on CDC websites.

Cassidy asserted that he would actively prevent any attempts to restrict access to vaccines without robust scientific evidence. The committee’s vote concluded with a narrow margin of 14 to 13 in favour of Kennedy, signalling a smoother path to confirmation.

In the full Senate vote, Kennedy may afford to lose up to three Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him. His confirmation vote has yet to be scheduled but could occur next week.

Kennedy, who briefly ran for president before endorsing Trump, has sparked concern among Democrats due to his controversial views on vaccines and their safety. Critics have expressed fears that his confirmation could undermine public health initiatives.

Despite these concerns, Kennedy’s supporters, including some Republicans, have rallied behind him, suggesting he could develop a cooperative relationship with the Senate. If confirmed, he would oversee a significant department responsible for a vast array of health-related matters and a $1.7 trillion budget.