Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is meeting with Senate Democrats on key health committees to discuss his nomination. The Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will play pivotal roles in advancing Kennedy’s confirmation.
Kennedy’s meetings include high-profile Democrats such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and John Fetterman (D-PA), among others. While these discussions are standard for nominees, Kennedy’s nomination has sparked controversy, primarily due to his vaccine skepticism.
Kennedy has faced bipartisan criticism for his views on vaccines, which some blame for fueling public mistrust. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has voiced concern over Kennedy’s position, though no Republican senators have yet announced formal opposition. Kennedy has reportedly met with numerous Republican senators to solidify support.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat and physician, traveled to Washington to lobby against Kennedy’s confirmation. Green cited the devastating impact of anti-vaccine campaigns, including a 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa that claimed over 80 lives after vaccination rates plummeted. He directly attributed mistrust of vaccines to activists like Kennedy.
“There has been some concern that Fetterman and Sanders have a favorable opinion of some of RFK’s, for instance, anti-Big Pharma positions,” Green told Politico, suggesting that bipartisan resistance could delay or block Kennedy’s confirmation.
Kennedy’s nomination will move forward if the Senate Finance Committee approves it. With Democrats holding a narrow majority, Kennedy can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes if all Democrats oppose him. His meetings with Senate Democrats are expected to gauge the likelihood of bipartisan opposition.
Kennedy, known for his criticism of pharmaceutical companies and vaccine mandates, faces significant hurdles to secure the position. Advocates argue his focus on transparency and reform would benefit the department, but critics warn his views could undermine public health initiatives.
