RFK Jr. faced Senate confirmation hearing for health secretary (original) (raw)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s controversial selection to run the Department of Health and Human Services, ended his first of two expected days of confirmation hearings before Senate committees on Wednesday. Kennedy faced questions about his position on vaccines, abortion and other major health-care issues. He has been critical of vaccines for years and founded Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group. In public statements, Kennedy has repeatedly said he is not anti-vaccine. Meanwhile, former vice president Mike Pence and his conservative advocacy group have raised concerns about Kennedy’s past support for abortion. Kennedy, who has vowed to make combating chronic diseases a focal point if confirmed, appears to have a narrow path to securing the HHS post. If all Senate Democrats vote against his nomination, Kennedy can afford to lose only three Republicans.
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What we heard at Kennedy’s first confirmation hearing
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first Senate confirmation hearing — the most important one — is now in the books. The nominee to be America’s top health official struggled to answer questions about programs and responsibilities that fall under the Department of Health and Human Services, such as its role in enforcing a federal emergency-care law or the purview of its health insurance programs.
Hear RFK Jr. in his own words on vaccines
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As Kennedy is in the hot seat this week, The Washington Post’s daily news podcast Post Reports digs into an exclusive examination of hundreds of his past appearances and statements on vaccines. Hear Kennedy in his own words to understand the extent of his claims about vaccines, and what the science says.
Podcast episode
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Here are two issues that senators didn’t question Kennedy on:
Fluoride: Kennedy has vowed that the Trump administration would push localities to remove the mineral — credited for improving American oral health — from drinking water.
Transgender youth care: President Donald Trump has ordered HHS to take action to end the use of medical interventions to aid a child’s gender transition. Kennedy has previously expressed support for restricting such care. - Return to menu
One of the last questions came from Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), who asked Kennedy what he thought was causing the avian influenza outbreak in dairy cows, poultry flocks and people.
“The H5N1 virus,” Kennedy said.
“That’s good to hear,” she said, noting for the record that Kennedy has questioned the scientific basis for germs causing disease and the power of vaccines and antibiotics. - Return to menu
After the hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden (Oregon), the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters that he cannot see any Democrats on the committee supporting the nominee. Kennedy did not talk to the media immediately after leaving the hearing. - Return to menu
The hearing is wrapping up, abruptly, as senators need to race to the floor for an unrelated vote. - Return to menu
Ranking member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said Kennedy’s anti-vaccine and pro-vaccine statements represent “a word salad,” ducking the issue. “I find your presentation to be both and to be both untrustworthy and unprepared.” - Return to menu
Democrats are trying to close the hearing on an aggressive note, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) invoking the measles outbreak in Samoa again — to the groans of Kennedy supporters in the crowd. Kennedy, who met with anti-vaccine activists before the outbreak, again said he bears no responsibility for the crisis. - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) urged his colleagues to look at more information than Kennedy has presented before yielding his time to other senators. - Return to menu
Kennedy cited 23 percent of Americans receiving the latest coronavirus vaccine as evidence that Americans have lost trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine uptake has plummeted since most Americans received the initial series of shots, but it actually improved since last year. In early January, nearly half of seniors were up-to-date on their coronavirus shots, compared with a third by that point last year, according to CDC survey data. That’s the age group most likely to be hospitalized if they get covid and the group the Biden administration focused its vaccination campaign on. - Return to menu
In response to a question from Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Georgia) about the Trump administration’s pause last week on external communications from the health agencies, Kennedy said he was not consulted, “but that’s pretty much standard operating procedure for an incoming administration.” - Return to menu
Under questioning by Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Georgia), Kennedy denied comparing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Nazi death camps. NBC News obtained footage of Kennedy’s appearance at a 2013 conference, reporting that he claimed that the CDC harmed children in a way that he likened to death camps in reference to autism and the debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.
After Warnock read a partial transcript of his remarks, Kennedy said he was “comparing the injury rate to our children to other atrocities_.”_ - Return to menu
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) pressed Kennedy on his support for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “My objective is to support CDC. There’s nothing I’m going to do that is going to harm CDC. I want to make sure that our science is gold-standard science” and free from conflicts of interests, Kennedy said. - Return to menu
Doctors for America past president Meghana Rao, wearing a white doctor’s coat, said she was horrified by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s responses. She said it was clear watching from the front rows of the hearing room that he did not know basic facts about Medicare and Medicaid. She argued that he was focusing on food issues that would not be his agency’s purview. “I’m absolutely terrified that he doesn’t understand how EMTALA works,” she said, referencing the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. - Return to menu
A supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the hearing who declined to give her name told The Washington Post that she loved Kennedy and hoped he was confirmed. The woman, wearing a red and white Make America Great Again cap, said he is “a great man, an honest man.” - Return to menu
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), a physician, offered Kennedy some of the most glowing praise. _“_I believe for such a time as this that you’re not just one of 300 million people. I think that you are the person to lead HHS to make America healthy again, that God has a divine purpose for you.” - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) defended Kennedy in comments to reporters in the hallway, arguing that President Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary is not a conspiracy theorist. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. committed to advancing Food and Drug Administration efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials. Health agencies removed website pages devoted to the issue after a Trump administration order for agencies to purge websites related to diversity, equity and inclusion, STAT News reported. This raised concerns that the Trump administration would reverse course on addressing the problem of drugs and medical devices hitting the market with insufficient research on varying effects across demographic groups. - Return to menu
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) said she plans to make her decision on whether to support Kennedy after she questions him again Thursday. Hassan also sits on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which plans to hold a courtesy hearing tomorrow. A bit of congressional procedure: The Senate Finance Committee is the panel charged with sending Kennedy’s nomination to the Senate floor. - Return to menu
We’re taking a short recess for a restroom break, said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the committee chairman. - Return to menu
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) asked Kennedy about pharmacy middlemen, which lawmakers in both parties have targeted. Measures to crack down on pharmacy benefit managers were dropped from a government spending bill late last year.
“President Trump is absolutely committed to fixing the PBMs,” Kennedy said, adding that many senators brought up the issue to him in recent private meetings. - Return to menu
Asked by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) whether he agrees with President Donald Trump’s past remarks calling climate change a “hoax,” Kennedy said he and Trump agreed to disagree on the issue. “I believe climate change is existential. My job is to make Americans healthy again,” Kennedy said.
The exchanged prompted a rebuke from Advancing American Freedom, the organization founded by former vice president Mike Pence, who opposes Kennedy over his past support of abortion rights. “What other issues do radical RFK Jr. and President Trump disagree on?” the organization posted on X, part of its campaign to sway Republican senators. - Return to menu
A Washington Post investigation found that the nonprofit Kennedy founded that Sen. Sanders (I-Vermont) mentioned was one of four that rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic by capitalizing on the spread of medical misinformation. Children’s Health Defense received 23.5millionincontributions,grantsandotherrevenuein2022,enablingittopayKennedymorethan23.5 million in contributions, grants and other revenue in 2022, enabling it to pay Kennedy more than 23.5millionincontributions,grantsandotherrevenuein2022,enablingittopayKennedymorethan510,000 in 2022, double his2019 salary, tax records show. - Return to menu
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) pressed Kennedy on whether he stands by merch sold by Children’s Health Defense Fund, an anti-vaccine group he founded. (Video: The Washington Post)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) pressed Kennedy on whether he stands by paraphernalia sold by his allies, such as an outfit for babies sold by Children’s Health Defense Fund — which Kennedy founded — and is emblazoned with the message “Unvaxxed Unafraid.”
“Are you supportive of these onesies?” Sanders thundered. - Return to menu
Kennedy said he was called a conspiracy theorist for saying fluoride (the mineral added to drinking water to improve oral health) lowers IQ, but a recent literature review published in JAMA, the influential medical journal, confirmed the association. That’s true, but missing context: The conclusion is based on elevated levels of fluoride mostly outside the United States and did not apply to the recommended concentration of fluoride in American drinking water. Kennedy has said the Trump administration would advise water districts to remove fluoride. - Return to menu
Under questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Kennedy said he supports vaccines and the “childhood schedule.” Kennedy has linked (without scientific evidence) the rise of chronic disease, autism and food allergies in the United States to the “exploding vaccine schedule.” He has criticized the addition of coronavirus vaccines to the pediatric schedule of recommended vaccines and tweeted in 2021 that the schedule was “overburdened.”
Previous studies have found the childhood immunization schedule to be safe, and research continues. - Return to menu
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) leaned into the attacks on Kennedy.
“I got a real quick question for you: Are a you a conspiracy theorist?” he asked. Kennedy said it’s a “pejorative” that he’s faced for asking difficult questions. He rattled off examples, such as his criticism of the risks of food dyes, that he said have been backed by scientific evidence; the Biden administration pulled a food dye off the market this month. RFK Jr. sought to trademark MAHA for vaccine marketing, transferred to ally
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. applied in recent monthsto trademarkhis signature slogan, “Make America Healthy Again,” to potentially market supplements, vitamins, essential oils and cryptocurrency, according to documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
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“Look, no one should be fooled by you,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) said, decrying Kennedy’s past statements on vaccines. “Kids might die, but Robert Kennedy can keep cashing in.”
A Washington Post investigation found that the nonprofit Kennedy founded was one of four that rose to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic by capitalizing on the spread of medical misinformation. That group received 23.5millionincontributions,grantsandotherrevenuein2022,enablingittopayKennedymorethan23.5 million in contributions, grants and other revenue in 2022, enabling it to pay Kennedy more than 23.5millionincontributions,grantsandotherrevenuein2022,enablingittopayKennedymorethan510,000 in 2022, double his2019 salary, tax records show. - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) references the support of the Independent Medical Alliance for Kennedy’s nomination. The group, which recently rebranded from the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance, has promoted ivermectin for the flu and RSV, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously told The Post lacked any clinical evidence. Physicians who say they followed the group’s coronavirus treatment protocols have been investigated by state medical boards for failing to meet the standard of medical care. - Return to menu
Kennedy laments that Democrats who once agreed with him on environmental issues now oppose his nomination.
“Now they’re against me because anything that President Trump does, any decision he makes, has to be lampooned, derided, discredited, marginalized, vilified,” Kennedy said. - Return to menu
Here comes Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), who peppered Kennedy with 175 questions ahead of the hearing. She has only a few minutes to ask her questions now, and she’s focusing on his potential financial conflicts … - Return to menu
Kennedy said the Biden administration proposal to set the first-ever minimum-staffing rule for nursing homes is well-intentioned but would be a “disaster” for rural areas. Industry representatives have said the standard is unworkable and impossible to achieve. Xavier Becerra, secretary of Health and Human Services under Biden, previously questioned how operators could claim to run nursing homes if they can’t find enough nurses. - Return to menu
An hour and a half into the hearing, there has been little discussion of infectious diseases, including the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak that is ravaging dairy herds and poultry flocks, and which has infected at least 67 people. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he will work to keep rural hospitals from closing using artificial intelligence and telemedicine, after a question from John Barrasso (R-Wyoming). - Return to menu
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Kennedy had a testy exchange. She asked him whether he’d be a rubber stamp on President Donald Trump’s policies and if he was only nominated to lead HHS to address one issue: an explosion of chronic disease.
“If we don’t solve that problem, senator, all of the other disputes we have about who’s paying and whether it’s insurance companies, whether it’s providers, whether it’s HMOs, whether it’s patients or families — all of those are moving deckchairs around on the Titanic. Our ship is sinking,” Kennedy responded. - Return to menu
Kennedy allies want less focus on his past statements on vaccines and more attention on his agenda to combat chronic disease and childhood illness. “We have a CHRONIC DISEASE epidemic,” Calley Means, a Kennedy adviser, just posted on social media. “If a politician gives a damn about children’s health, that is all we would be talking about.”The Democrats questioning Bobby Kennedy have not said the words “diabetes”, “obesity”, or “heart disease” once. All angry questions about vaccines.
We have a CHRONIC DISEASE epidemic.
If a politician gives a damn about children’s health, that is all we would be talking about.
— Calley Means (@calleymeans) January 29, 2025
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Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) tried to pin Kennedy down on whether federal emergency law preempts state abortion bans if a woman needs an emergency abortion.
“I don’t know. I mean the answer that is, I don’t know,” Kennedy responded.
This has been a major debate in health policy, reaching the Supreme Court last year. (The court mostly punted on the case.) The Biden administration argued that federal law preempts state law for emergency abortions. - Return to menu
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) grilled Kennedy on his past comments favoring abortion rights and whether he decided to “sell out” those values to join the Trump administration. Kennedy replied by twice repeating that he agrees with Trump that “every abortion is a tragedy.” - Return to menu
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) referenced Kennedy’s suggestion a material in the polio vaccine could cause cancer, a quote The Post unearthed, when confronting him with a series of false statements he has made against vaccines. - Return to menu
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) also focused on a commonly used abortion pill, asking Kennedy to work with the incoming FDA commissioner to review previous actions widening the availability of mifepristone. Kennedy’s response: President Donald Trump has asked him to study mifepristone and that Trump has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate the medication. - Return to menu
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) offered one of the toughest condemnations yet of Kennedy’s vaccine stances.
“This is too much of a risk for our country, and 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 told Kennedy. - Return to menu
Republicans are trying to shore up Kennedy as a trusted voice after a series of rough interactions with Democrats who used Kennedy’s words against him. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana), a chemical engineer, noted that there are several GOP doctors on the panel.
“We believe in science. I’m thankful that you do, too,” Daines said. - Return to menu
While Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that President Donald Trump wants him to examine the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone, hundreds of studies have already attested to its safety. Critics of the drug exaggerate the negative physical and psychological effects of mifepristone by cherry-picking statistics and invoking studies researchers call misleading, my colleagues have reported. - Return to menu
Earlier, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) asked Kennedy to specify which parts of the Health and Human Services Department he would start firing the 2,200 people Kennedy told Warner he wanted to fire. Kennedy dodged the question. “I will commit to not firing anybody who’s doing their job.” - Return to menu
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) had this to say to Robert F. Kennedy, his old roommate: “Frankly, you frighten people.” - Return to menu
Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) asked Kennedy how he would handle the federal family planning grant program called Title X. In his first administration, President Donald Trump barred clinics from receiving grants if they refer women for abortions, prompting Planned Parenthood to drop out of the program, a policy former president Joe Biden reversed.
“I serve at the pleasure of the president,” Kennedy replied, adding that he would implement Trump’s policies.
Some abortion foes had hoped their allies in Congress would use the moment to extract concessions from Kennedy. - Return to menu
Whitehouse trying to extract promises from Kennedy. “Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations— including a promise from you never to say vaccines aren’t medically safe when they in fact, are,” he tells his old friend. - Return to menu
We’re now getting to the heavily awaited questions from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), the former friend and roommate of Kennedy. This may give us clues on whether he’ll be a swing vote for Kennedy or not … - Return to menu
Kennedy suggested that Americans do not like health insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Enrollment in those plans has been surging, exceeding 21 million people last year. - Return to menu
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) spent his time questioning Kennedy about federal health-care programs, such as Medicare. Cassidy did not ask him about vaccines, even though he said the two had a “frank conversation” about immunizations when they met earlier this month. But Cassidy will get a chance to quiz Kennedy before the committee he now chairs, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. That hearing is scheduled for Thursday. - Return to menu
I’m closely watching these questions from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who is seen as a potential swing vote on Kennedy. He’s asking a number of questions, including some pretty technical ones, about how Kennedy would oversee Medicare and Medicaid. - Return to menu
That was tough questioning from Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), who raised his voice several times despite being known as a typically mild-mannered senator. - Return to menu
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) slams RFK. Jr. with yes-or-no questions about his past statements. (Video: The Washington Post)
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) ended his questioning by blistering Kennedy with yes-or-no questions about his past statements. He also appealed to Republicans to intercede with President Donald Trump. “Unlike other jobs that we’re confirming around this place, this is a job that is life and death,” Bennet said. “It’s too important for the games you’re playing, Mr. Kennedy.” - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was quoting a study when pressed about his previous comments on the coronavirus being ethnically targeted. (Kennedy had said that “Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.”) However, the study in reference did not state those conclusions, nor mention Chinese people. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denied saying exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender. Kennedy has repeatedly — and falsely — asserted that chemicals in the water that disrupt hormones, such as the herbicide atrazine, could be causing gender confusion or “profound sexual changes” in children. A spokesperson for Kennedy told CNN, which first reported the comments in 2023, that he was not saying those chemicals were the main cause of gender dysphoria, but that the issue merited more research. - Return to menu
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) spent the beginning of his question saying he aligned with Kennedy on the need to change how Americans eat. But then he voiced strong concerns about Kennedy’s nomination, saying that Kennedy is peddling in “half-truths” and “false statements,” launching into a series of tough questions - Return to menu
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) used the beginning of his questioning period to say he aligned with Kennedy on the need to change how Americans eat. But then he voiced strong concerns about Kennedy’s nomination, saying that Kennedy is peddling “half-truths” and “false statements” — and then launching into a series of tough questions. - Return to menu
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asks Kennedy whether he would support PEPFAR, a bipartisan program that has saved millions of lives across the globe from AIDS. Kennedy says he would “absolutely support PEPFAR.” - Return to menu
Kennedy mentioned that he was a heroin addict and is in recovery while discussing addiction recovery services in this country. - Return to menu
Republicans are also invoking HHS’s key responsibilities overseeing refugee resettlement and taking custody of unaccompanied migrant children. “I think this may surprise people, that’s actually the responsibility of HHS,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). - Return to menu
Earlier in the hearing, Kennedy said vaccinating 6-year-old children is inappropriate because they have “basically zero risk” from the coronavirus. In 2023, 81 youths ages 5 to 19 died of covid-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted. Other diseases prevented by routine childhood immunizations had lower annual death tolls before widespread vaccination, including hepatitis A, rubella and rotavirus. - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) hammered Kennedy about the measles outbreak in Samoa that followed Kennedy’s visit to the island nation in 2019, where he met with anti-vaccine activists.
“Clearly I had nothing to do” with the outbreak, Kennedy insisted in a heated response.
“He’s trying to now play down his role,” Wyden countered. - Return to menu
This is turning into a heated back-and-forth between Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Kennedy about Kennedy’s false claims about vaccines, including Kennedy’s role in fueling the measles outbreak in Samoa.
Here’s more about that:
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), who is also a doctor, says RFK Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health, contributed to a measles outbreak in Samoa. (Video: Rhonda Colvin, Alisa Shodiyev Kaff/The Washington Post) - Return to menu
Another protester — masked and holding a sign saying “Vaccines save lives” — interrupted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Senator, listen to me!” she yelled before being removed. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) warned that if there are further disruptions, the hearing will be paused until Capitol Police can restore order. - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) pointed to a quote The Post surfaced yesterday about Kennedy wishing he could go back and not vaccinate his children: “I would do anything for that. I would pay anything to be able to do that.” - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) began his questions by first entering a letter from Caroline Kennedy — the cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — into the record. Caroline Kennedy warned that her cousin was unfit to serve as health secretary. - Return to menu
In opening statement for his confirmation hearing, RFK Jr. called the Make America Healthy Again agenda one of the most "powerful movements I’ve ever seen." (Video: The Washington Post)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is repeating his themes from his abortive presidential campaign about the dangers of processed foods and sugary drinks. And he mentioned that President Donald Trump loves Diet Coke. An epidemic of chronic illness is killing us too soon
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The United States is failing at a fundamental mission — keeping people alive.
After decades of progress, life expectancy — long regarded as a singular benchmark of a nation’s success — peaked in 2014 at 78.9 years, then drifteddownward even before the coronavirus pandemic. Among wealthy nations, the United States in recent decades went from the middle of the pack to being an outlier. And it continues to fallfurther and further behind.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
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In Sen. Mike Crapo’s (R-Idaho) first question, he asked about Kennedy’s focus on nutrition. “I share your interest in the relationship between our diet and our well-being,” Crapo said, teeing up a softball question about why Kennedy is passionate on these issues. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sought to preemptcriticism of his vaccine views, insisting he is not anti-vaccine. An extensive review of Kennedy’s public comments by The Washington Post found he repeatedly disparaged vaccines and falsely linked themto autism. He founded Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the Make America Healthy Again agenda “one of the most transcendent and powerful movements I’ve ever seen.” Kennedy endorsed Donald Trump over the summer, and the two aligned to form a political alliance, now known as MAHA, to tackle chronic disease and childhood illness, which tapped into broad frustrations with America’s health-care system and problems. - Return to menu
The screaming protester was forcibly removed from the room by a police officer. - Return to menu
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. begins his remarks by saying Americans’ overall health is in “grievous condition” and worse than that of any other developed nation. He is emphasizing chronic illness. - Return to menu
A protester interrupted Kennedy’s opening statement where he claimed to not be anti-vaccine. “He lies!” yelled a woman in a blue shirt. Capitol Police officers promptly removed her. - Return to menu
Sen. Ron Wyden (Oregon), the committee’s ranking Democrat, accused Kennedy of being hypocritical, saying he is fond of saying he’s not making recommendations about whether parents should vaccinate their children, but just asking questions and giving people choices. “It’s a slippery tactic to dodge any real responsibility for his words and actions, and it’s absurd coming from somebody who’s trying to win confirmation for a job that is entirely about making recommendations.” - Return to menu
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the committee’s chairman, welcomed Kennedy and praised him for efforts to “chart a new and better course” on health care. - Return to menu
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), who is also a physician, told The Post shortly before the hearing started that he had spoken with 12 senators on both sides of the aisle, and he was disturbed that this would be a close vote that Kennedy could win. “He should not be confirmed, considering his many decisions that led to harm to children that I witnessed personally,” Green said, adding that he was worried after hearing rumors that tomorrow’s Senate Health, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing may not occur. - Return to menu
One Democrat to watch: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), an old friend and roommate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. There’s been some speculation that Whitehouse will support Kennedy, particularly because he hasn’t denounced him. Whitehouse told reporters this week that “people just need to kind of chill” about his potential vote, saying that he has never telegraphed a vote before a hearing. View from the hearing room
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Greetings from Capitol Hill, where Wednesday’s hearing will soon get underway.
Given the public interest, the Senate Finance Committee is holding the hearing in an expansive room on the ground floor of the Dirksen office building. The committee’s usual hearing room on the second floor has been turned into an overflow room, with simulcast video.
Given the public interest, the Senate Finance Committee is holding today’s hearing in this expansive room on the ground floor of Dirksen.
The committee’s usual hearing room on the second floor has been turned into an overflow room, with simulcast video. pic.twitter.com/LFU2luG0yh
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) January 29, 2025
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Chants of “we love you Bobby” rang out as Kennedy entered the hearing room, with several members of the audience standing up to clap. - Return to menu
Kennedy was spotted in the hallway moving into a room near the hearing. - Return to menu
Outside Union Station, several protesters were gathered wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Make Polio Great Again.” One protester, Cam Nelson, said they were trying to spread the word about the risks they believe Kennedy’s confirmation would pose, saying Kennedy’s beliefs lack an understanding of medical science. Will RFK Jr. be confirmed as health secretary?
Visualizing fluoride in drinking water, state-by-state
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President Donald Trump’s pick to run the nation’s health agency, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has railed against the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water, a measure that public health experts and dentists credit with reductions in tooth decay. Seven out of 10 Americans who get their drinking water from public water systems receive fluoridated water, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alternative medicine fans see RFK Jr. as a hero. The field’s skeptics worry.
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Like many Americans, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes his vitamins.
He has talked about vitamins or supplements at least 55 times inpodcasts, speeches, shows and interviews, according to a Washington Post analysis of more than 400 media appearances since May 2020. Kennedy, in one 2023 podcast interview, described how he takes “a fistful of vitamins every day,” acknowledging he had “no idea what they do” — although he hastouted some as cures for covid-19 and measles.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
Caroline Kennedy warns senators of ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in searing letter
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In a video posted on Jan. 28, Caroline Kennedy urged the Senate to reject the nomination of her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of HHS. (Video: The Washington Post)
Caroline Kennedy warned senators Tuesday about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling her cousin — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services — a “predator” whose victims have included family members and the parents of sick children.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
RFK Jr., once a Trump critic on immigration, now could help enforce it
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When the first Trump administration moved to separate migrant families at the border, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was among the many critics of the policy, writing on social media that it forced a devastating choice upon migrants seeking to enter the United States. Democrats had worked to “reverse the cruelty of the Trump years” on immigration, Kennedy said in 2023 as he mounted his own bid for president.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
RFK Jr. disparaged vaccines dozens of times in recent years and made baseless claims on race
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly disparaged vaccines, falsely linked themto autism and argued that White and Black people should have separate vaccination schedules, according to a Washington Post review of his public statements from recent years.
This is an excerpt from a full story.
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