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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, 3:47 PM GMT

Republican Sen. Grassley tells Kennedy to leave agriculture to other agencies

Kennedy has said he wants to reduce pesticides and other chemicals as he vows to take on the food industry, sparking some pushback from Republicans and the farming sector.

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley used the bulk of his time to tell Kennedy to leave agricultural issues to the appropriate agencies.

"I expect you to prioritize rural Americans health care needs on agriculture. In our meeting earlier this month, we talked at length about agriculture," he said. "You prefaced the conversation by saying you will not have jurisdiction over these issues. I expect you to leave agricultural practice regulations to the proper agencies."

Grassley has not yet said if he would support Kennedy's nomination.

Jan 29, 2025, 3:45 PM GMT

RFK says he supports measles, polio vaccine, Wyden skeptical

Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden and Kennedy got into a heated back-and-forth over the nominee's controversial stances on vaccines.

Wyden brought up Kennedy's publication, "The Measles Book: Thirty-Five Secrets the Government and the Media Aren't Telling You about Measles and the Measles Vaccine," as an example of how he has pushed debunked claims on the vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparred with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden during a hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee.
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RFK Jr. says he's not anti-vaccine despite past statementsRobert F. Kennedy Jr. sparred with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden during a hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee.
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Kennedy, however, said he would not block people from taking the measles and polio vaccines.

"I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking it," Kennedy testified.

Wyden did not appear convinced.

PHOTO: Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services during his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, as he appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP

"Anyone who believes ought to look at the measles book you wrote saying parents have bene misled into thinking measles is a deadly disease. That is not true," the senator said.

Jan 29, 2025, 3:31 PM GMT

RFK Jr. suffers from rare disorder making voice sound strained

Viewers watching or listening to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing may notice that his voice appears strained.

Kennedy suffers from spasmodic dysphonia, a rare disorder affecting the voice muscles in the larynx, also called the voice box, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Spasmodic dysphonia can cause the voice to break when speaking and can affect breathing, making it sound noisy and labored.

Jan 29, 2025, 3:28 PM GMT

RFK Jr. says he's not anti-vaccine despite past statements

Kennedy's past comments on vaccines is a point of skepticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

Since being nominated to lead HHS, he's attempted to clean up his stance. He did so again in the final moments of his opening statement, noting he and his children have been vaccinated.

"News reports have claimed that I'm anti-vaccine or any industry. I am neither. I am pro-safety," he said.

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.
Ben Curtis/AP