WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny during a Senate hearing as he aimed to solidify his candidacy for President Trump’s health secretary position, which oversees the expansive $1.7 trillion Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This crucial agency is responsible for various responsibilities, including funding medical research, overseeing public health initiatives, ensuring food and drug safety, managing hospital operations, and administering Medicare and Medicaid.
Kennedy’s appearance before the Senate Finance Committee highlighted the divergent expectations of Republicans and Democrats regarding his leadership. Republicans expressed optimism that Kennedy could contribute to tackling chronic diseases and lowering healthcare expenses. In contrast, Democrats utilized his past statements and writings to challenge his current positions on significant topics such as vaccines and abortion rights. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat, pointed out the inconsistency in Kennedy’s views, stating, “from abortion to universal healthcare, Mr. Kennedy has changed his views so often it’s nearly impossible to know where he stands.”
As Kennedy prepared to face further questions from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee on Thursday, key moments from Wednesday’s hearing emerged. A significant focus was directed towards his current stance on vaccines, which had been controversial in the past. Kennedy asserted that he was not opposed to vaccinations, despite a history of advancing claims about their dangers – a statement that Democrats found hard to believe. “Frankly, you frighten people,” remarked Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island.
Kennedy declared, “I am not anti-vaccine,” and affirmed his support for vaccines such as those for measles and polio, committing that as secretary of HHS, he would not hinder efforts to promote them. However, prior to his nomination, he had made statements denouncing vaccines, labeling COVID-19 shots as “a crime against humanity” and perpetuating the discredited notion of a link between vaccines and autism. During the hearing, he claimed, “most experts agree” children aged six should not receive COVID-19 vaccinations, a statement which contradicts the guidance from health authorities like the FDA and CDC, both of which advocate for vaccinations for younger children.
Dr. James Campbell from the American Academy of Pediatrics rebuked Kennedy’s assertion, emphasizing that a large body of experts believes COVID vaccines are indeed safe for children. Senator Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire, pressed Kennedy over his fluctuating position on vaccinations, expressing skepticism about his apparent change in views after being nominated. “There is no reason that any of us should believe that you have reversed the anti-vaccine views that you have promoted for 25 years,” she stated emphatically.
Kennedy was also confronted about his evolving stance on abortion. Critics from both pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion factions highlighted his seemingly conflicting positions. During questioning, several Democrats suggested that Kennedy had moderated his views to align with Trump’s preferences. Senator Bernie Sanders remarked on the rapid change in Kennedy’s viewpoint as unusual for a politician. Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado referred to earlier statements made by Kennedy advocating for leaving decisions about abortion to the pregnant individual rather than allowing governmental intervention.
Repeatedly, Kennedy stated, “I have always believed abortion is a tragedy,” in response to questioning from Republican Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Republicans expressed hope that Kennedy could provide viable solutions for the stagnant healthcare landscape. Idaho’s Senator Mike Crapo, chairing the committee, commended Kennedy’s commitment to addressing chronic health issues, asserting that a focus on disease prevention is essential for advancing public health and reducing expenses.
In his remarks, Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin recounted a previous interaction he had with Kennedy regarding their collaboration under Trump’s leadership, expressing that it could serve as a unifying step for the divided nation.
Throughout the hearing, Kennedy commonly advocated for more research on established medical therapies. He mentioned a request from Trump to investigate the safety of mifepristone, an abortion medication that has been widely used and approved by the FDA after extensive review. Senator Hassan refuted Kennedy’s comments by presenting multiple studies proving mifepristone’s safety.
Kennedy also suggested that rising incidences of school shootings might correlate with increased prescription rates of antidepressants, a claim that he later qualified by clarifying that he referenced multiple contributing factors, not solely the medication itself. He admitted that the question of such a relationship remains unresolved. However, extensive clinical trials currently assess antidepressant safety, and the FDA maintains oversight over such medications.
Moreover, Kennedy’s comments regarding Alzheimer’s research misrepresented ongoing scientific investigations. He stated that the National Institutes of Health had ceased exploring alternative hypotheses, a claim countered by evidence of their broad research funding targeting various factors influencing Alzheimer’s.
Senators leveraged Kennedy’s past statements against him during the proceedings. When questioned about a claim linking COVID-19 to a targeted engineering approach affecting specific ethnic groups, Kennedy denied attributing intentionality to it. In recalling controversial assertions regarding Lyme disease potentially being a bioweapon, he accepted responsibility, stating, “I probably did say that.”
