On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, marking a victory for President Trump. Kennedy’s confirmation was met with controversy due to his views on vaccines, which have sparked much debate. The vote was 52-48, with most senators voting along party lines. However, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined Democrats to oppose Kennedy’s nomination. McConnell has now voted against three of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, more than any other Republican senator.
The confirmation vote highlights Trump’s influence over the Senate GOP majority. Despite Kennedy’s controversial views, along with other contentious nominees like Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Republicans supported Trump’s choices for top positions in his administration. This demonstrates Trump’s ability to secure support from his party, even when some nominees face intense scrutiny.
McConnell, who has had a strained relationship with Trump in the past, has evolved from being a leader of the establishment Republican Party to a key swing vote. This change has partly come from McConnell’s opposition to the Republican Party’s growing isolationist views, which often clash with Trump’s approach. In explaining his opposition to Kennedy, McConnell mentioned his personal experience with polio. He said, “This Administration – led by the same President who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed – deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. healthcare system,” McConnell argued that Kennedy failed to prove he was the right choice to lead such an important health agency.
Despite the opposition, Kennedy will now serve as one of the country’s top health officials. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a crucial part of the U.S. government, managing important health programs like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These agencies play a significant role in the health and safety of millions of Americans.
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy denied being anti-vaccine. He told senators, “I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care.” However, when Senator Bernie Sanders asked Kennedy if he agreed that the evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism, Kennedy hesitated. Sanders pointed out that studies proving vaccines do not cause autism already exist. Kennedy’s response raised concerns among lawmakers about his understanding of important public health issues. Although Kennedy denies being anti-vaccine, a 2023 CNN fact check noted that he has been a leading anti-vaccine activist, using misleading claims to undermine public trust in vaccines that are proven to be safe.
Kennedy’s confirmation hearings also revealed several mistakes he made regarding the Medicare and Medicaid programs. For instance, acccording to CNN, he wrongly described Medicare Part A as covering “primary care or physicians” when it actually covers inpatient hospital care. He also skipped over important details, like the fact that many Medicare enrollees are in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers. He also mischaracterized Medicaid as being fully funded by the federal government, even though it is jointly funded by both the federal and state governments. These errors raised doubts among some senators about his ability to lead such a large and complex agency.
In 2024, Kennedy ran for president as both a Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden and later as an independent candidate. His campaign focused on issues like chronic diseases, food safety, and environmental policies. As part of his campaign, Kennedy met with Trump to discuss the possibility of endorsing him in exchange for a role in his administration. He eventually suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
The votes to confirm Kennedy, along with Hegseth and Gabbard, show how Trump has been able to keep Republican senators in line, minimizing disagreements as he works to overhaul the federal government. Some GOP senators, like Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, were initially unsure about Kennedy but voted in favor after having intense talks with the White House. Other Republicans, like Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, expressed concerns about Kennedy’s views on vaccines but ultimately supported him after he promised to base vaccine recommendations on “data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research.”
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