RFK Jr clears first hurdle in US health secretary nomination with narrow vote

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has successfully passed the first major hurdle in his nomination to become the US Health Secretary, with the Senate Finance Committee approving his nomination in a close 14-13 vote on Tuesday.

The vote split largely along party lines, with all Republicans on the committee supporting Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic who previously threw his support behind Donald Trump after ending his own presidential bid.

Kennedy’s nomination will now proceed to the full US Senate for a vote. The Senate, which is currently controlled by Republicans with a 53-47 majority, will have the final say on whether Kennedy will be confirmed as the next health secretary.

During his Senate testimony, Kennedy faced intense scrutiny over his views on vaccines and other public health issues. Senators questioned his stance on vaccines, particularly his past comments that have raised concerns among public health experts. Although Kennedy clarified that he was not opposed to vaccines and rejected conspiracy theories, he did emphasize the need for more stringent safety testing. His comments, however, were met with skepticism, especially when he referred to vaccines during a podcast appearance, stating, "There's no vaccine that is safe and effective."

The hearings also delved into Kennedy’s leadership of Children’s Health Defence, an organization previously led by Kennedy, which has faced criticism for selling baby clothes with anti-vaccine messages. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who works closely with Democrats, initially praised Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" slogan but later presented evidence linking the group to anti-vaccine rhetoric. Kennedy, in response, stated that he no longer had oversight of the organization.

Despite questions from Democrats, Kennedy managed to secure the critical support of Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, a doctor who had expressed doubts about Kennedy’s qualifications, ultimately voted in favor of his nomination during the committee hearing, ensuring the nomination would move forward to the full Senate.

Kennedy’s confirmation remains uncertain as the full Senate vote approaches, but his path to health secretary is now one step closer.