RFK Jr. Clears Key Senate Hurdle in Trump’s Cabinet Bid

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cleared a significant hurdle in his bid to become Health and Human Services Secretary under President Donald Trump.

The former Democrat-turned-Trump supporter, known for his skepticism of vaccines and battles against Big Pharma, secured approval from the Senate Finance Committee in a narrow 14-13 vote along party lines, as reported by Fox News.

Despite the slow-moving process compared to other Trump nominees, Kennedy’s confirmation effort took a step forward while other Cabinet picks, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have already been confirmed.

Hegseth’s confirmation required Vice President J.D. Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

The key focus of the committee vote was on Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician who also chairs the Senate Health Committee. Initially, Cassidy voiced strong concerns over Kennedy’s views, particularly his stance on vaccines.

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During last week’s confirmation hearings, Cassidy bluntly told Kennedy, “Your past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me.” This raised doubts about whether he would break ranks with fellow Republicans.

However, in a last-minute shift, Cassidy announced his support for Kennedy, citing a series of commitments made by the nominee.

These included quarterly hearings before the HELP Committee, frequent meetings, the committee’s ability to appoint representatives on vaccine safety review boards, and a requirement for a 30-day notice plus hearings for any changes in vaccine safety reviews.

Cassidy justified his backing by stating, “These commitments, and my expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again, is the basis of my support.”

Over the weekend, Kennedy and Cassidy reportedly engaged in extensive discussions, ultimately securing Cassidy’s endorsement and ensuring the party-line vote.

Kennedy, who faced aggressive questioning during his Senate hearings, has been a controversial pick due to his longstanding criticism of vaccines and his leadership of Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit that has challenged federal health mandates, including COVID-19 vaccine authorizations for children.

Predictably, Democrats used his past statements to attack him, attempting to paint him as a conspiracy theorist unfit for the role.

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Kennedy, however, remained unfazed, reaffirming his mission to overhaul HHS by shifting its focus toward healthier lifestyles and addressing the root causes of chronic disease.

“Our country is not going to be destroyed because we get the marginal tax rate wrong. It is going to be destroyed if we get this issue wrong,” he stated, emphasizing the urgent need to combat chronic illnesses linked to processed foods and pharmaceutical overreach.

Once a Democrat scion, Kennedy made waves when he left the party and launched an independent presidential bid against Joe Biden in 2023.

By August 2024, he dropped his campaign and threw his support behind Trump, a move that rattled the left and further cemented his alignment with the America First movement.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Kennedy’s confirmation now hinges on keeping the GOP unified. If Democrats remain opposed, Kennedy can only afford to lose three Republican votes when his nomination heads to the full Senate for confirmation.

The battle isn’t over yet, but Kennedy has already proven he’s not backing down.