Senate to hold final vote on RFK Jr nomination to serve as Trump’s Health secretary
The Senate is expected to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary in President Donald Trump’s cabinet on Thursday. This final showdown over Kennedy’s controversial nomination was set in motion after the Republican-controlled Senate invoked cloture in a 53-47 party-line vote, starting the clock ticking towards the final confirmation roll call.
Kennedy, a well-known vaccine skeptic and environmental crusader who ran for the White House in 2024 before endorsing Trump, needs a simple majority to be confirmed by the Senate. Despite surviving back-to-back combustible Senate confirmation hearings last month, Kennedy faced a tough grilling over his past controversial comments linking vaccines to autism, which have been debunked by scientific research.
During the hearings, Democrats highlighted Kennedy’s role as chair or chief legal counsel for Children’s Health Defense, the nonprofit organization he founded that advocates against vaccines and has sued the federal government multiple times. Despite the opposition from Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy managed to secure a party-line victory to advance his confirmation to the full Senate, thanks to an endorsement from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Cassidy, a physician, had initially expressed concerns about Kennedy’s past comments undermining confidence in vaccines but ultimately gave his support after receiving commitments from the nominee. Other Republican senators who had reservations, such as Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, also announced their support for Kennedy, citing his promises to work with Congress on vaccine recommendations based on data-driven research.
Kennedy’s nomination has not been without controversy, as his outspoken views on Big Pharma and the food industry have raised eyebrows. However, he has pledged to focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle, including overhauling dietary guidelines and tackling chronic diseases. His “Make America Healthy Again” campaign aims to address the root causes of health issues plaguing the nation.
Despite his shift from a Democratic to an independent presidential bid in 2023 and eventual endorsement of Trump, Kennedy has managed to build relationships with far-right leaders due to his vaccine skepticism. Trump, who initially criticized Kennedy, eventually nominated him to lead HHS, praising him as a champion for shared values.
The final vote on Kennedy’s nomination comes on the heels of another controversial confirmation, that of director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in a 52-48 vote. As Kennedy prepares to take on the role of HHS secretary, his commitment to promoting public health and working with Congress on evidence-based vaccine recommendations will be put to the test.
