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Top Republican 'struggling' with RFK Jr.'s nomination over Kennedy's vaccine views

Kennedy refused to say vaccines don't cause autism during his hearings.

Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 6:14 PM GMT

President Donald Trump has promised he'd let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "go wild" on health, food and medicine as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy, a Democrat who ran as an independent but ended up supporting Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign, was grilled by senators over his views on vaccines, abortion, Medicaid and more during two days of confirmation hearings.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, concluded Thursday's hearing by saying he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's vaccine positions. Kennedy notably refused to say vaccines don't cause autism as he faced pointed question from lawmakers.

Jan 29, 2025, 4:26 PM GMT

'Frankly, you frighten people,' Democrat Whitehouse says

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse slammed Kennedy for what he called his anti-vaccine views and past statements citing rising measles cases.

"Frankly, you frighten people," the Rhode Island senator, who has been a long-time friend of the nominee, said.

Whitehouse stressed that Americans need to hear Kennedy's promise to say that never say vaccines aren't medically safe and that he supports mandatory vaccines "against diseases where that will keep people safe."

"You're in that hole pretty deep," the senator said.

Kennedy did not respond to those requests.

Jan 29, 2025, 4:22 PM GMT

Kennedy said he supports Trump's position on Title X

Kennedy said he would support President Donald Trump's position on Title X.

Title X is a federal family planning program that provides services including pregnancy prevention, pregnancy testing, infertility services and other preconception services to low-income and uninsured people.

During his first term, Trump implemented a rule barring health care providers within the Title X network from offering referrals for abortion care to patients. This was reversed by the Biden administration.

President Donald Trump looks on after delivering remarks at the House Republican Members Conference Dinner at Trump National Doral Miami, in Miami, Florida, Jan. 27, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Kennedy said he agreed with Trump's views on the program and on abortion, including believing laws regulating the procedure should be left up to the states.

"I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions," Kennedy said.

Jan 29, 2025, 4:20 PM GMT

Medicaid, Medicare and more sweeping programs will be under RFK Jr.'s purview if confirmed

HHS oversees major health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, among others.

Millions of Americans, especially low-income Americans, rely on Medicaid and Medicare for health coverage.

Kennedy has said he wants to reform parts of those programs, arguing most people on them are not satisfied with their plans.

Polls show Americans are generally unhappy with the state of health care and insurance, though a 2023 survey from KFF -- a health policy research organization -- showed those on Medicaid and Medicare reported more positive ratings of their insurance compared to people on other kinds of coverage.

Jan 29, 2025, 4:05 PM GMT

RFK opponents, supporters lined up to view hearing

RFK Jr.'s tense confirmation hearing has drawn dozens of onlookers. The hearing room is packed with supporters, others opposing Kennedy, and some protesters.

People started lining up early this morning and there was a long line to enter the packed overflow room simply to watch the hearing on a monitor.

A group of women, dressed in scrubs and doctors' coats and identifying themselves as doctors and nurses from several states, walked into the hearing room wearing "Reject RFK" buttons.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

Kennedy's supporters, some wearing Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) t-shirts and others wearing swag from Kennedy's failed presidential campaign, gave the controversial nominee a standing ovation as he entered the hearing room.

-ABC News' Jay O'Brien