Senate Advances RFK Jr. For HHS Secretary
The Republican-controlled Senate moved forward with a procedural vote on Wednesday to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as health secretary, another selection by President Donald Trump for his Cabinet.
The final confirmation vote in the full Senate is set to take place either Thursday or Friday.
Last week, senators voted 52-47 to progress RFK Jr.'s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Following heated discussions on Capitol Hill, the outcome remained uncertain when GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a medical doctor, hesitated to back Kennedy.
However, after meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Cassidy confirmed he would vote in favor of RFK Jr.'s appointment.
“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy posted on X Tuesday morning.
“I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. 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,” he added.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) emphasized that Kennedy represents the change the country needs.
“Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, will have the opportunity to deliver much-needed change to our nation’s health care system,” he stated, as reported by the New York Post. “He has spent his career fighting to end America’s chronic illness epidemic and has been a leading advocate for health care transparency, both for patients and for taxpayers.”
The chairman also pointed out that RFK Jr. had responded to more than 900 questions from the committee.
Cassidy's primary concern stemmed from Kennedy’s stance on vaccines and his previous statements linking vaccines to autism, NBC reported.
Late last month, an organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence launched a campaign urging Republican senators to oppose RFK Jr.’s nomination as health secretary.
Pence—who served as Trump’s vice president during his first term—has voiced strong opposition to RFK Jr. due to his prior stance on abortion.
“Whatever the merits of RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again initiative—indeed, whatever other qualities a nominee might possess—an HHS Secretary must have a firm commitment to protect unborn children, or else bend under the pressure and pushback surrounding these daily, critical decisions,” wrote Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff, in a letter to senators.
“While RFK Jr. has made certain overtures to pro-life leaders that he would be mindful of their concerns at HHS, there is little reason for confidence at this time,” they added.
This is the second formal effort by Pence and his organization to prevent Kennedy’s confirmation. Shortly after Trump announced Kennedy’s nomination, Pence released a statement urging senators to reject him based on his past abortion views, The Hill reported.
Kennedy, who initially launched his 2024 presidential bid as a Democrat, had previously supported a ban on abortion after the first trimester but later walked back that position. He also stated opposition to outlawing abortion before fetal viability, which is generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy.
On his campaign website, Kennedy reaffirmed that he was “a firm supporter of the principles laid out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade” and that “if the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore abortion rights, he will support legislation to accomplish the same.”
Kennedy sought to reassure Republicans by asserting that his personal views would not impact policy and that he would uphold all the anti-abortion measures from the first Trump administration.