Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump health secretary nominee, faces scrutiny in Congress hearings

The confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for health secretary, are scheduled to take place before the Senate finance committee on Wednesday morning and the health, education, labor, and pension committee on Thursday. If approved, Kennedy will be in charge of a $1.7 trillion US agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, health clinics, vaccine recommendations, and health insurance for roughly half the country.

Kennedy, a member of the highly regarded Democratic political family, has a long history in the political arena. His father served as attorney general in his uncle’s presidential administration and later ran for president himself, only to be tragically assassinated in 1968. Kennedy, 70, made his own presidential bid in the last election cycle as an independent before suspending his campaign and aligning with Trump in August.

Over the years, Kennedy has been vocal about his beliefs on vaccines, raising concerns about their safety and effectiveness. He has led a nonprofit organization that has sued the government over vaccine authorizations and has called for further study of routine childhood vaccinations, despite overwhelming evidence of their efficacy in preventing disease.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has criticized Kennedy for his anti-vaccine stance, calling him the face of the modern anti-vaccine movement. However, Kennedy has recently tried to backtrack on his previous remarks, claiming he is not anti-vaccine and promising not to eliminate access to vaccines.

Kennedy’s pro-choice views on abortion have also raised concerns among conservative lawmakers, particularly in light of recent Supreme Court decisions and Trump’s executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Kennedy has advocated for Medicare and Medicaid to cover healthier foods and gym memberships, aligning himself with some Democratic senators on the issue of food regulations and access to nutritious foods.

Despite opposition from some members of the Kennedy family, who have criticized his public health views and personal conduct, Kennedy has received support from others, including former Rhode Island congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, who credited him with helping him overcome addiction.

As the confirmation hearings unfold, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy will pass the scrutiny of the Senate committees and ultimately be confirmed as the new health secretary. His controversial views on vaccines, abortion, and other health-related issues will likely be closely examined, and his ability to lead the Department of Health and Human Services will be carefully evaluated.