Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a polarising figure and environmental lawyer, has successfully passed the first stage of his nomination to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance his nomination to a full Senate vote, with unanimous support from Republicans and opposition from Democrats. Concerns linger about Kennedy’s controversial history in questioning vaccine safety, as well as his potential conflict of interest due to financial gains tied to lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies.
To secure his position, Kennedy will require the backing of nearly all Senate Republicans, especially given Democratic opposition. Senator Bill Cassidy, who has voiced reservations about Kennedy’s vaccine stance, cast a vote in his favour after expressing concerns about Kennedy’s credibility. Meanwhile, several Republican senators remain undecided.
In recent interviews, Kennedy downplayed financial risks associated with his potential role and pledged to direct legal referral fees to his son, indicating he has earned $4 million from cases against Merck’s HPV vaccine. Should he be confirmed, Kennedy would oversee vaccine policies and significant public health initiatives, all while navigating a unique alliance with both conservative anti-vaccine advocates and progressive health reformers under the banner “Make America Healthy Again.”