Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of many nation’s most publicly acknowledged vaccine skeptics, is predicted to face sharp questions Wednesday when he goes earlier than a Senate panel for the primary time as President Donald Trump’s decide to grow to be well being secretary.
A longtime environmental lawyer with no expertise working in public well being administration or medication, Kennedy is understood for his work in questioning the protection and efficacy of vaccines, together with encouraging mother and father to not adhere to vaccination suggestions and serving to to sue a vaccine producer for what he alleged was advertising fraud.
If confirmed, Kennedy could be accountable for overseeing an unlimited federal company that manages the well being care of some 170 million Individuals, regulates entry to medicine and vaccines and tracks pressing outbreaks of illnesses and foodborne diseases.
In line with two folks aware of the matter, Vice President JD Vance has been lobbying senators behind closed doorways to help Kennedy. A spokesperson for Vance didn’t reply to a request for remark.
“Vance is working the telephones to ensure Bobby will get over the road,” one individual mentioned.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of Well being and Human Providers, speaks throughout a gathering on the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
In non-public conferences with senators, Kennedy has been telling senators that he is not “anti-vaccine,” however relatively that he desires extra examine, in keeping with two folks aware of the discussions. That message seems to be working with a number of Republicans who say they’re happy along with his method up to now.
“I do not agree with every little thing that he says however we actually each suppose that there are alternatives in vitamin and to lower the toxins that youngsters are uncovered to,” mentioned Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
Kennedy can solely afford to lose three Republican votes on the Senate flooring and nonetheless get confirmed. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, has panned Kennedy’s place on vaccines. Different Republicans have mentioned they need Kennedy — a Democrat earlier than aligning with Trump — to make clear his place on abortion rights.
Thus far, no Democrats have pledged to again him with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., calling her non-public assembly with Kennedy “by far the strangest” assembly she’s had with a possible cupboard secretary.
“I used to be appalled at his solutions and his lack of awareness and what he was pushing on the American folks,” she mentioned. “We want any person accountable for this company that’s going to guarantee that our youngsters and grandkids … have the right well being care data not misinformation.”
Kennedy has been getting ready for this week’s hearings by holding what insiders name “homicide board periods”– intense rounds of question-and-answer led by a bunch of advisors to organize Kennedy for probably the most troublesome questions he may face within the listening to rooms.
Lawyer Ken Nahagian, who escorted the nominee by the Senate hallways for conferences in latest weeks, led the periods, in keeping with two folks with information of his involvement.
Kennedy’s testimony comes as a scathing letter from his cousin and former U.S. ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, landed within the inboxes of senators calling him a “predator” who “preys on the desperation of oldsters of sick kids” and is “hooked on consideration and energy.” Caroline Kennedy was the U.S. ambassador to Japan and later Australia throughout the Obama and Biden administrations.
“The American well being care system, for all its flaws, is the envy of the world,” Caroline Kennedy wrote. “Its docs and nurses, researchers, scientists, and caregivers are probably the most devoted folks I do know … They deserve higher than Bobby Kennedy – and so do the remainder of us. I urge the Senate to reject his nomination.”
Outdoors teams essential of Kennedy mentioned they had been working to make sure senators understood the dangers concerned.
“RFK Jr. is up to now out of the bounds of any form of nomination for a submit like this in my lifetime that there isn’t any query you might ask or no reply he may give that may make him certified for this, or not harmful within the submit,” mentioned Gregg Gonsalves, affiliate professor of epidemiology at Yale Faculty of Public Well being.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Well being and Human Providers walks to a gathering with Sen. Bernie Sander within the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing on Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos
Gonsalves has been a part of a letter-writing and telephone marketing campaign producing over 3,500 particular person letters to senators from public well being professionals, healthcare staff, community-based suppliers and scientists, asking the senators to reject Kennedy’s nomination.
Kennedy’s listening to comes at a time when a lot of the general public has grown skeptical of the federal government, public well being and the media, whereas gravitating towards on-line influencers.
The decline in public belief of well being businesses particularly started throughout the COVID pandemic. Now, Individuals are largely break up on saying whether or not they belief the Meals and Drug Administration, in keeping with a KFF ballot launched this week.
On the identical time, 80% of Republicans say they belief Trump and Kennedy as they might their very own docs, the ballot discovered.
ABC Information’ Allie Pecorin and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.