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.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico questioned Kennedy on Medicaid and whether or not he was for cutting or reducing the program.
Kennedy told the Democrat that President Trump does not want to cut Medicaid
"He's told me to make it better," Kennedy said.
"If President Trump asks you to cut Medicaid, will you do it?" Lujan asked.
"It's not up to me to cut Medicaid, it would be up to Congress," the nominee responded.
Jan 29, 2025, 5:43 PM GMT
RFK supporters applaud as committee takes brief recess
As the committee broke for a brief, five-minute recess, some Kennedy supporters gave a loud round of applause.
People wear caps in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Jan 29, 2025, 5:33 PM GMT
Democrats unsuccessfully push for 2nd round of questioning
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden pushed for a second round of questioning but Republican chairman Mike Crapo said they will not be doing so.
Crapo offered Wyden only a second opportunity for questions, to which Wyden said he would divide his time among his colleagues.
There are about seven senators who have still yet to question Kennedy.
Jan 29, 2025, 5:28 PM GMT
Sanders calls out RFK-started organization over anti-vax onesies
Sen. Bernie Sanders showed off images of baby onesies sold by the Children's Health Defense, a non-profit that Kennedy started that has pushed policies to end vaccine mandates.
The clothing contained messages such as "no vax, no problem."
6:50
Sen. Bernie Sanders asks RFK Jr. if health care is human rightSanders also questioned RFK Jr. on anti-vaccine clothing aimed at children from an organization Kennedy chaired from 2015 to 2023.
ABCNews.com
Sanders asked the nominee if he would call for the group to stop selling those products since he now says he's pro-vaccine.
Sen. Bernie Sanders questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Kennedy's nomination to be Health and Human Services Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
"You are making money selling a child's product for 26 bucks which casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines," Sanders said.
Kennedy said he had no power over the organization and resigned from the board months ago.
"You founded it, you have power, you can make that move," Sanders shot back, and then asked Kennedy if he supported the sale of the onesies.
"I am supportive of vaccines," Kennedy said, as he has repeatedly answered.