Senate Committee Votes to Move RFK Jr’s HHS Nomination Forward
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secured a crucial victory on Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to advance his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The decision moves Kennedy one step closer to confirmation, with a full Senate vote expected as early as next week, according to Trending Politics.
RFK JR. NOMINATION MEETING VOTE!
This was a tough one, but we did it! The committee just voted to approve @RobertKennedyJr to lead the HHS, 14-13!@Bannons_WarRoom pic.twitter.com/Id5GMDMj5u— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 4, 2025
Kennedy, 71, has been a polarizing figure for years due to his vocal skepticism of pharmaceutical companies and vaccine mandates. His nomination has ignited fierce debate in Washington, with every Democrat on the committee opposing him.
Critics claim his views on vaccines and public health make him unfit for the role, while supporters argue that he is exactly the kind of disruptor needed to shake up Washington’s entrenched health bureaucracy.
During his testimony before the committee last week, Kennedy doubled down on his commitment to reforming healthcare policy. He outlined concerns about vaccine safety, rising healthcare costs and government overreach, emphasizing his goal of increasing transparency within HHS.
“One of the things I’m going to advise Donald Trump to do in order to correct the chronic disease epidemic is to ban pharmaceutical advertising on TV,” Kennedy said in a video posted to X last November.
He has frequently criticized Big Pharma’s influence over government health policies, arguing that corporate interests have been prioritized over public well-being.
The Senate Finance Committee’s approval highlights the growing influence of Washington critics in reshaping government policies. While Kennedy’s stance on vaccines and healthcare policy has drawn intense criticism, his supporters see him as a fearless advocate willing to challenge the pharmaceutical industry and government health agencies.
His confirmation hearings also revisited several controversial statements he has made over the years. Democratic senators pressed him on past remarks, including his claim that COVID-19 was “ethnically targeted” to affect certain racial groups differently, his assertion that Lyme disease was a military-engineered bioweapon and his refusal to “take sides on 9/11,” according to the New York Post.
One of the most heated moments came when Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) passionately opposed Kennedy’s nomination.
“Look, no one should be fooled here,” she said, according to TP. “As Secretary of HHS, Robert Kennedy will have the power to undercut vaccines and vaccine manufacturing across our country.”
“Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it. Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in.”
Warren’s attack only solidified Kennedy’s support among those who see his nomination as a necessary shift away from the status quo, particularly given the growing concerns about government and corporate control over public health, TP notes.
Kennedy’s advancement ultimately rested on Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy (R), a physician who had major concerns about Kennedy’s shifting stance on vaccines. Despite his reservations, Cassidy provided the key vote needed to move the nomination forward.
Just before the vote, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to rally support for Kennedy, pointing to the rise in autism rates among children.
“20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34,” Trump wrote.
“WOW! Something’s really wrong.”
“We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT,” he added.
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