RFK Jr. facing critical vote from the Senate Committee

On February 4, 2025By Littum

Washington – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominees to be the country’s top health worker, is rejected on Tuesday.

Voting, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. 10, comes after Kennedy faced an overwhelming two -day committee hearings last week, struggling to explain previous statements, he questioned vaccines and stumbled over questions about Medicare and Medicaid.

Outside of Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegeth, Republican Senators have been united behind the president’s cabinet election, but Kennedy’s nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will be the biggest test yet.

Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s vote:

Louisiana sen. Bill Cassidy is seen as the key vote

Kenney’s fate in the committee could come down to the vote of US Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., A doctor who has spoken openly about being torn over Kennedy because of his views on vaccines.

“I’ve struggled with your nomination,” Cassidy said mute Kennedy during last week’s hearings. “Make a 71-year-old man who spent decades criticizing vaccines and was financially assigned to find errors with vaccines, can he change his attitudes and approach now that he wants the most important position that affects vaccine policy in the United States?”

Still, Cassidy liked political blowback to vote against a Trump -nominated. Cassidy is ready for re -election in 2026 and has also drawn a Republican primary challenge after aligning to judge Trump under the president’s second impeachment in 2021.

Democrats in the committee united against Kennedy

Kennedy does not appear to have the support of any Democrats in the 27-member Senat’s Finance Committee, which means Cassidy probably has the power to block Kennedy’s nomination with his only vote. The committee has 14 Republican Senators and 13 Democrats.

“Mr. Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories, cattle, charlatans, especially when it comes to safety and efficiency of vaccines, ”said Oregon sen. Ron Wyden, the ranked Democrat in the committee, during last week’s hearings.

Sheldon Whitehouse, Dr.i., a former law schoolmate for Trump -nominated, said to Kennedy, “Frankly, you are scaring people.”

‘I’m not anti-vaccine,’ Kennedy has said

Kennedy tried to distance himself from the previous comments on vaccines, highlighted repeatedly by Democrats and said to the committee, “I’m not anti-vaccine. I’m pro-security.”

Still, Kennedy had no explanations for his story of casting doubts about vaccines, comparing CDC’s work with “Nazi death camps”, saying it “very likely” Lyme disease was a military biowapon and concern about antidepressants and a trace of other past controversial statements.

Kennedys Vaccine -The Case draws control

Kennedy has gained control of the founding of nonprofit -children’s health defense, which has supported vaccine cases. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Noted that nonprofit is currently selling clothes to infants with the words “Uvaxxed uncomfortable” and “No VAX no problem.”

“You say you’re pro -vaccine,” Sanders said last week, “and yet your organization makes money selling a child’s product to parents for $ 26, which casts basic doubts about the applicability of vaccines.”

Does Kennedy have the votes in the full Senate?

Even if Kennedy survives Tuesday’s vote, it is still unclear whether he has the votes in full Senate that Republicans control with a 53-47 margin.

Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., A polio survivor, has raised concerns about Kennedy’s attitude towards vaccines. And the Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine has shown a willingness to bend Trump when it comes to his nominees as they voted against Hegeth Pick.

How to see RFK Jr.’s confirmation reconciliation

The Senate Finance Committee is likely to vote on Tuesday morning on Kennedy’s bid to lead HHS. The hearing that begins at 1 p.m. 10 EST, streamed on the committee’s site. Livestream for tuesday’s hearing.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta

Well Joey Garrison on X @Joeygarrison.