After Rocky Performance At Senate Hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Prospects For Senate Confirmation Are More Uncertain Than Ever

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two consecutive confirmation hearings as he sought the job of health secretary after being nominated by President Donald Trump. If confirmed, Kennedy would have control over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare, Medicaid Services and more federal agencies.

At the hearing, Kennedy clarified that he was not “anti-vaccine” or “anti-industry,” which has been the focus of many news reports about him. “Well, I am neither,” Kennedy said, “I am pro-safety.”

However, after Kennedy’s rocky performance at the hearings, his confirmation chances appear more uncertain than ever.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) mocked Kenndy’s flip-flops on abortion. Sanders quoted Kennedy’s own words from 2023 when he stated that the government should not interfere with a woman’s bodily autonomy.

“I have never seen any major politician flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did when Trump asked you to become HHS Secretary,” Sanders said. “Tell me why you think people should have confidence in your consistency and in your work when you really made a major U-turn on an issue of that importance in such a short time.”

Kennedy responded that he has always believed that abortion is a tragedy.

Kennedy has repeatedly made claims that vaccines are linked to autism, which scientists have disproven. He served as the chair for the non-profit he founded, Children’s Health Defense, which has advocated against vaccines. He has sued the federal government many times over vaccines.

After dropping his presidential bid in late August 2024, he endorsed Trump and campaigned throughout the country with him.