The Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The vote was 14-13.
Just before the vote was held, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said he would support Kennedy. “I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning. I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel,” Cassidey wrote on X. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
President Donald Trump wrote in support of RFK Jr., “20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT”
Kennedy said during his confirmation hearing last week, “The first thing I’ve done every morning for the past 20 years, is to get on my knees and pray to God, that he would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic, and to help America’s children.”
He later said, “All these Democrats are opposed to me for partisan issues. They used to be my friends, agreed with me on environmental issues. Now they’re against me because any decision Trump makes has to be lampooned, derided, discredited, marginalized, vilified.”
Trump nominated Kennedy for the HHS position in November, citing his commitment to restoring healthcare regulatory agencies to scientific integrity and transparency.
