The Senate Finance Committee advanced Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a tight vote along party lines, paving the way for a final confirmation vote in the full Senate. The Committee voted 14 to 13 to approve RFK Jr. following a tense confirmation hearing in which Democrat Senators accused RFK Jr. of being a vaccine denier and peddling conspiracy theories.
During the process, RFK Jr. made several promises, telling leftist Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) that he would not take any money from Big Pharma or insurance companies after his term in the position ended, for instance. He also told the Committee that he would implement the policies of President Donald J. Trump if confirmed, particularly highlighting a proposed ban on late-term abortions.
“We cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year,” RFK Jr. told the Committee, labeling every abortion a “tragedy.”
The successful vote for RFK Jr. largely came down to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who was believed to be hostile to the nomination. However, just before the vote, Senator Cassidy released a statement indicating he held “very intense” talks with Kennedy and the White House last weekend and this morning.
He thanked Vice President J.D. Vance for his counsel, adding that he changed his vote to ‘yes’ after receiving “serious commitments” from the Trump administration.