In a significant partisan divide, a Senate committee on Tuesday voted to move forward the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notable figure in environmental law and a vocal critic of public health policies, for the role of overseeing the $1.7 trillion U.S. Health and Human Services department. The committee saw a solid majority of 14 Republican members supporting Kennedy’s nomination, while all 13 Democrats expressed opposition. This division comes despite rising concerns among some senators regarding Kennedy’s history of spreading skepticism about vaccine safety and possible financial gains through lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies.
The outcome of the committee vote strongly suggests that Kennedy’s nomination is poised to progress unless there are unexpected shifts in votes. Republican senators are currently under significant pressure from both the White House and Kennedy’s enthusiastic supporters who have inundated their offices with calls and emails advocating for his confirmation. Although a date for the full Senate vote has yet to be determined, Kennedy will be able to afford to lose only three Republican votes if he is to succeed, especially if Democrats vote unanimously against him.
Senator Bill Cassidy has openly addressed his inner conflict as a physician who recognizes the critical role vaccines play in healthcare but still chose to vote in favor of advancing Kennedy’s nomination. In a recent exchange, Cassidy expressed his unease about Kennedy’s prior actions that could undermine public confidence in vaccines, prompting him to voice genuine concern while ultimately casting a supportive vote. Cassidy refrained from elaborating further on his decision but shared on social media that he had held “intense conversations” with both Kennedy and stakeholders in the Trump administration, resulting in significant commitments regarding public health policies.
Several Republican senators, including Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell, are viewed as potential dissenters, especially considering their opposition to Trump’s previous cabinet nominations and their wariness of Kennedy’s stance on vaccination. In his recent media appearances, McConnell emphasized the vital importance of vaccines without revealing his stance on Kennedy’s nomination. Meanwhile, Senator Thom Tillis expressed reassurances after discussions with Kennedy about maintaining the independence of scientific agencies, indicating that any deviation from established vaccine safety protocols could jeopardize Kennedy’s standing with him.
As the nomination process unfolds, Democrats have voiced serious concerns that Kennedy’s leadership could lead to financial conflicts of interest, particularly related to vaccine policies and regulations. In a pointed letter to Kennedy, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden highlighted the potential for decisions made by him as health secretary to yield considerable financial benefits for his family. Kennedy has disclosed that he intends to allocate all referral fees from legal actions against vaccine manufacturers to his son, asserting he has facilitated numerous clients to a law firm suing the makers of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. Notably, he has reportedly earned $2.5 million through these referrals in recent years.
Should Kennedy be confirmed as health secretary, his responsibilities would encompass a wide array of critical issues, including food safety, hospital regulatory inspections, healthcare coverage for millions, and research on infectious diseases. A longstanding Democrat, Kennedy shifted his political alignment when he withdrew from the presidential race last year to support Trump in exchange for a prominent role within the Republican administration. His collaboration with Trump has spearheaded a unique coalition of both vaccine skeptics among conservatives and advocates for healthier food choices among liberals, jointly launching a campaign branded as “Make America Healthy Again.”
