Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Donald Trump has cleared a crucial hurdle. The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines on Tuesday to advance his controversial nomination. With the committee’s narrow composition, a single Republican defection could have derailed Kennedy’s path to confirmation, keeping all eyes on Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
Cassidy, a physician, had voiced serious concerns during last week’s hearings, particularly regarding Kennedy’s controversial stance on vaccines. Kennedy’s past comments, including a claim on a 2023 podcast that “no vaccine is safe and effective,” raised alarms among lawmakers. Cassidy admitted he was “struggling” with the decision, noting his apprehension about the potential impact on public health policies.
However, intense discussions over the weekend with Kennedy and the White House led Cassidy to support the nomination. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Cassidy acknowledged these conversations. “I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House,” he said. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
Speaking on the Senate floor, Cassidy detailed the assurances he had received. Kennedy promised to collaborate closely with Cassidy if confirmed, including regular consultations on key decisions and personnel hires at HHS. Additionally, Kennedy pledged to preserve existing CDC guidelines on immunization and maintain public statements affirming that vaccines do not cause autism.
President Trump has personally lobbied senators in support of Kennedy, while Vice President JD Vance has been working quietly behind the scenes to secure votes. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s confidence in Kennedy’s confirmation. “We expect all Senate Republicans to stand tough and strong,” Leavitt told reporters. “Make America Healthy Again is a very popular slogan and movement. Tens of millions of Americans are hopeful that RFK Jr. will be the next HHS secretary.”
Kennedy’s nomination has sparked intense debate due to his history of vaccine skepticism. During last week’s hearings, he insisted he was not “anti-vaccine” but “pro-safety.” However, he has publicly questioned the safety of measles and polio vaccines and has falsely linked vaccines to autism. Cassidy scrutinized Kennedy’s reliance on a discredited study to support this claim, highlighting the flawed methodology.
Kennedy also cast doubt on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, claiming it was uncertain whether they had saved millions of lives. This assertion contradicted a 2022 study from Yale and the University of Maryland, which estimated that COVID-19 vaccines had prevented over 3 million deaths and 18 million hospitalizations.
Democratic senators expressed additional concerns about Kennedy’s past remarks. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado confronted him over comments related to transgender children, which Kennedy denied making. Nevertheless, Bennet cited a 2022 podcast episode in which Kennedy repeated a conspiracy theory suggesting that endocrine disruptors and pesticides could influence sexual orientation and gender identity.
With the Senate Finance Committee’s vote complete, Kennedy’s nomination now heads to the full Senate. A final vote is expected within the next week. While his supporters argue that he could bring significant reform to HHS, critics worry that his history of spreading misinformation could undermine trust in public health initiatives.
The Trump administration remains steadfast in its support for Kennedy. “We’re pushing forward because we believe in Bobby’s vision for health policy,” Leavitt said. The coming days will determine whether Kennedy secured the votes needed to lead one of the most critical departments in the federal government.
