RFK Clears Major Confirmation Hurdle, Advances Out Of Committee In Partisan Vote

The Senate Finance Committee voted on Tuesday morning to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the full U.S. Senate to be President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services in a strictly partisan vote. All 14 GOP senators voted for Kennedy; all 13 Democrat senators voted no.

Moments before the vote, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that Kennedy had won his support in the hearings, crediting Vice President JD Vance. Cassidy, a doctor, was considered one of the biggest obstacles to his confirmation.

“I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy said. “I want to thank [Vice President JD Vance] specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”

Prior to the vote, when asked if he had been calling senators who had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard or RFK Jr., Trump responded, “Yes. I’ve gotten a great response. They want to do what’s right; we’ve had a good response. I think we’ll do well. We have great people; people like this.”

“I approached with an open mind, and I watched the hearing, and that’s how the process works,” Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman stated. “I’ve been following it and I talked to my colleagues on both sides; and I’ve said this on the record; it’s been challenging for sure, absolutely. It’s certainly not a slam-dunk for the nomination.”

I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning. I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the…

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 4, 2025

During the hearings for Kennedy, he was asked about a potential conflict of interest over his financial interest in lawsuits connected to vaccines. Kennedy was involved in a suit against Merck and its Gardasil vaccine. He ultimately replied he would “divest my interest in any such litigation via an assignment to my non-dependent adult son.”

“It is my opinion that RFK Jr’s plan to pass on any financial stake in possible vaccine injuries to his son is more than sufficient to meet any ethical concerns,” Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation declared. “This is particularly true because of the limitations imposed by federal law on any claims made against vaccine manufacturers that severely limit possible compensation for anyone claiming a vaccine was somehow defective.”

Idaho GOP Senator Mike Crapo noted Kennedy had answered more than 900 questions from senators during his hearings.

Oregon Democrat Senator Ron Wyden preceded by attacking Elon Musk and Trump. “The last several days we witnessed an authoritarian take-over of our federal government by Elon Musk and Donald Trump,” he said. “They have set their sights on a full purge of anyone in government that doesn’t bend the knee and follow their orders.”

He accused Musk and Trump of making “a mockery of the power Republicans hold with their congressional authority.” He also accused Kennedy of “peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies.”

Washington Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell said her father had supported Kennedy’s father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, but she could not support RFK Jr. Georgia Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock mocked Trump for saying he hoped Kennedy would go “wild” as Secretary; after the vote was taken, North Carolina GOP Senator Thom Tillis said, “I hope he goes wild.”