Robert Kennedy Jr.‘s path to become the next secretary of health and human services improved considerably today, as his nomination cleared a key Senate committee and he won the support of a Republican holdout on another.
The Senate Finance Committee voted in favor of his nomination along party lines, 14-13. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions said that he would vote in favor of Kennedy. He had previously expressed misgivings, given Kennedy’s past comments that vaccines are linked to autism.
Cassidy wrote on X, “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 issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
But just before this morning’s vote, President Donald Trump continued to push the claim that vaccines are linked to autism, even though numerous studies have debunked it.
He wrote, “20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT.”
Democrats have hammered Republicans for the vote on Kennedy, who has long advanced unfounded conspiracy theories. Last week, Kennedy’s cousin, Caroline Kennedy, wrote a blistering letter to lawmakers urging them to reject his nomination.
“Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children vaccinating his own children while building a following hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs,” she wrote.
Trump also got good news on another controversial nomination, Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) said that he would support her, with a vote of the Sebate Intelligence Committee scheduled for this afternoon.
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