RFK’s Contentious Confirmation Hearing
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing Wednesday in front of the Senate Finance Committee was filled with contentious moments as lawmakers questioned President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, who has a history of spreading discredited theories on vaccines and other public health issues, would oversee the agency’s $1.7 trillion budget and hold influence over the foods and drugs that affect the daily lives of Americans if he is confirmed. During the hearing, he rejected any labeling of being “anti-vaccine.”
The environmental lawyer who initially ran for president as a Democrat before switching to an independent faced many questions about his previous statements that don’t line up with Trump’s current agenda. Kennedy suspended his own independent and, at times, bizarre campaign for the White House and endorsed Trump in August.
Kennedy’s confirmation vote in the Senate is sure to be a close one with most members falling along party lines. But with the GOP holding a narrow 53-47 advantage in the upper chamber, if even just a few Republicans don’t support Kennedy, the bid could result in failure. Three Republican senators – Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky – have already shown a willingness to buck Trump, voting against his nominee for defense secretary.
Possibly complicating things further, Kennedy’s cousin Caroline Kennedy – the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan – sent a letter to senators on Tuesday calling him a “predator” whose actions “have cost lives.”
HHS oversees several agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Kennedy has another confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions on Thursday. Here are five takeaways from Kennedy’s hearing on Wednesday:
Kennedy Tries to Steer Clear of Anti-Vaccine Rhetoric
Kennedy painted himself as “pro-safety” instead of “anti-vaccine” during the hearing.
“I believe vaccines play a critical role in health care,” Kennedy said. “All of my kids are vaccinated.”
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont questioned Kennedy over a baby onesie sold by a group Kennedy founded that says “No Vax, No Problem.”
Sanders asked Kennedy if he was supportive of the onesies.
“I’m supportive of vaccines,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy previously said there’s “no vaccine that is safe and effective.” He has since tried to downplay the statement.
He also previously misleadingly suggested polio vaccines caused cancer in his generation “that killed many, many, many, many more people than polio ever did” and spoke out against the measles vaccine.
But during the hearing he pledged to support both the measles and polio vaccines.
“I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines,” he said.
Former Vice President Mike Pence previously said that Kennedy would be “the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history” if confirmed.
Kennedy faced several questions about his flip-flopping stance on abortion. He previously said that it is “always the woman’s right to choose” and that he doesn’t support legislation banning abortion. He later said that there is an “emerging consensus” that “abortion should be legal up until a certain number of weeks and restricted thereafter.”
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said that “from abortion to universal health care, Mr. Kennedy has changed his views so often it’s nearly impossible to know where he stands.”
During the hearing, Kennedy repeatedly said that “abortion is a tragedy” and that he would support Trump’s policies as HHS secretary.
Kennedy’s Abortion Pill Agenda? Whatever Trump Wants
The nominee faced several questions about mifepristone, which is a pill used in medication abortions that the FDA approved in 2000.
The Supreme Court preserved access to the pill last year following a challenge from a group of anti-abortion doctors. The Trump administration, however, could attempt to limit the availability of mifepristone.
Kennedy said that he would implement whatever policy Trump decides.
“President Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone,” Kennedy said. “He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does, I will implement those policies.”
Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota was not pleased to hear Kennedy’s stance.
“What is clear to me is that you and President Trump are dangerous to mifepristone,” Smith said.
Kennedy Struggles on Medicare and Medicaid Questions
Kennedy at times seemed to confuse Medicaid and Medicare and wasn’t straightforward about how he would reform the programs. He described Medicaid’s premiums and deductibles as too high, despite the fact that the program’s enrollees very rarely pay those fees.
“President Trump has asked me to make it work better,” Kennedy said. “Most Americans are not happy with it. The premiums are too high, the deductibles are too high, and everybody’s getting sick or too much money is going to the insurance industry.”
Democratic Sen. Ben Luján of New Mexico responded by citing statistics from state polling showing high levels of satisfaction with Medicaid.
Kennedy Signals White House Support for Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
During the hearing, Kennedy said in a brief exchange that the Trump administration will support drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Biden administration previously released newly negotiated prices of 10 widely prescribed medications after months of back-and-forth between Medicare and drug manufacturers.
Kennedy indicated that Trump plans to sign an executive order supporting further negotiations.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a statement on Wednesday indicating that the second cycle of negotiations will begin under the Trump administration as planned.