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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, 1:14 PM EST

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, 12:00 PM EST

Fact-checking RFK claims

Kennedy’s endorsements of the measles and polio vaccines during today’s confirmation hearing mask his years of skepticism about their safety and effectiveness.

Here are some medical claims made by RFK Jr. that are missing context or include falsehoods.

Kennedy claimed the CDC approved the COVID-19 vaccines without scientific basis, however, vaccines are among the most studied vaccines in history, with large clinical studies showing the health benefits far exceed any potential risks.

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.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Kennedy claimed he had nothing to do with the measles outbreak in American Samoa. Eighty-three people died during that outbreak. The nation's Ministry of Health cited Kennedy's visit and rhetoric as exacerbating vaccine hesitancy at a crucial moment.

The nominee claimed he 'probably" said Lyme disease is "highly likely a military-engineered bioweapon," however the disease is caused by a type of bacteria and spreads through the bite of blacklegged ticks.

Kennedy said he has never claimed pesticides lead children to become transgender, however, he has repeatedly pushed unfounded claims that environmental toxins, including those in drinking water, are linked to gender identity in children.

-ABC News' Will McDuffie, Youri Benadjaoud and Sony Salzman

Jan 29, 2025, 11:56 AM EST

Democrats want commitment to keep Biden's drug-pricing reforms

Under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare for the first time was allowed to directly broker with drug manufacturers. The first 10 drugs subject to negotiations were announced in 2023 and 15 additional drugs were unveiled just before President Joe Biden left office.

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto looked for a commitment from Kennedy to protect those negotiations going forward, as Trump and many Republicans campaigned last year on rolling back the law.

"Are you there to be a rubber stamp to this administration?” she asked him.

Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to be Health and Human Services Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Kennedy claimed the White House issued a new executive order supporting the drug pricing negotiations under the law, though no such executive order has been released.

"[Trump] has instructed me, and I've met with him repeatedly, as that we need lower price seniors in this country," Kennedy said.

Jan 29, 2025, 11:45 AM EST

Kennedy says he will implement Trump policies on mifepristone

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., asked Kennedy if he would take action to review the regulatory actions behind the abortion drug mifepristone.

Mifepristone is an oral drug typically used in combination with another drug, misoprostol, to induce an abortion or to help manage an early miscarriage.

The medication works by blocking progesterone, a hormone that the body needs to continue a pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration said it is safe to use as indicated and directed.

Daines expressed concern that mifepristone labeling lists emergency room visits as a possible complication. ER visits are not always considered a serious adverse event by health care professionals.

Kennedy said Trump has asked him to study the safety of mifepristone and that the president has not taken a stance on how to regulate the medication.

"Whatever he does, I will implement those policies and I will work with this committee to make those policies make sense," he said.

Jan 29, 2025, 11:39 AM EST

Democrat Hassan calls out RFK's past comments on women's reproductive rights

Sen. Maggie Hassan brought up previous comments Kennedy made as recently as 2023 where he expressed support for women's right to reproductive rights, which conflicts with his latest stance that "every abortion is a tragedy."

The New Hampshire Democrat pressed Kennedy on why he made this change so quickly.

"I agree with President Trump. Every abortion is a tragedy," Kennedy answered repeatedly.

Sen. Hassan brought up previous comments Kennedy made where he expressed support for women's right to reproductive rights, which conflicted with his latest stance that "every abortion is a tragedy."
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Hassan calls out RFK Jr.'s past comments on women's reproductive rightsSen. Hassan brought up previous comments Kennedy made where he expressed support for women's right to reproductive rights, which conflicted with his latest stance that "every abortion is a tragedy."
ABCNews.com

"What you're telling is regardless of what you believe … if President Trump tells you do something you’re going to do it," Hassan said.

"What you're telling us is, if President Trump orders you to take action to make it harder for women to get dire, needed health care, you'll follow his order," she added.