WASHINGTON ― The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the full Senate, moving him one step closer to being confirmed as President Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary.
The final tally was 14-13. Every Democrat on the committee voted against advancing Kennedy’s nomination, while every Republican voted in favor of it.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who is a physician, had previously raised questions about Kennedy’s record, and was seen as a possible “no” vote on his nomination. But in the end, he joined his party and voted to advance Kennedy.
“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy said on social media Tuesday ahead of the vote. “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.”
Kennedy has drawn fierce opposition from Democrats and outside groups due to his long record of fueling conspiracies and anti-vaccine misinformation, as well as his plans for abortion medication. During his Senate confirmation hearings last week, Kennedy also botched basic facts about Medicare and Medicaid ― two programs he’d oversee as HHS secretary.
Kennedy is “singularly unfit to serve as HHS secretary,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the finance committee, said ahead of the panel’s vote.
Wyden said Kennedy has made 114 separate appearances in the last four years where he espoused anti-vaccine views or spread misinformation that falsely linked vaccines to autism.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) said he was alarmed when he heard that Trump said he hoped Kennedy would “go wild” in his role as health and human services secretary.
“Of all the things I’d like to see the health and human services secretary do, ‘go wild’ is not on the list,” said Warnock.
Kennedy’s nomination now heads to the Senate floor.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
