The United States Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the administration of President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The Republican majority Senate approved Kennedy's nomination in a 52-48 vote, largely in the party lines.
The final decision followed a procedural vote on Wednesday that prepared the scenario for the confirmation call. Kennedy, an outstanding skeptical and environmental defender of the vaccine, previously run for president in 2024 before suspending his campaign and supporting Trump.
It required a simple majority for confirmation. Kentucky's Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican who opposed Kennedy's appointment. McConnell, the former leader of the Senate Republican Party who hired polyomyelitis when he was a child, has long defended vaccines.
“I am a survivor of the childhood polio. In my life, I have seen that vaccines save millions of lives of devastating diseases throughout the United States and worldwide. I will not tolerate the re-litigation of proven priests, nor millions of Americans who prove their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles, “McConnell said after the vote.
After confirmation, the president's political team wrote on social networks: “Congratulations @robertkennedyjr!” Kennedy endured intense Senate confirmation audiences last month, where he faced scrutiny about past comments, particularly his statements that link vaccines with autism, claims that have been refuted by scientific research.
The Democrats also highlighted their leadership role in Children's Health Defense, a non-profit organization that founded that it has challenged vaccines and litigate against the federal government, including the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children. With the Senate Democrats in the Finance Committee rejecting Kennedy, the attention resorted to Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, doctor and president of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions (Help).
Cassidy finally supported Kennedy before voting the committee, ensuring a victory of the 14-13 party to advance the nomination to the entire Senate. During the audience, Cassidy expressed reservations, stating: “His past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or deceitful arguments worries me.”
However, he later supported Kennedy after receiving a series of commitments, including the quarterly hearings of the Help Committee, multiple meetings per month, representatives of the Committee in vaccine security review joints and a 30 -day notice of 30 days plus an audience for any proposed change in vaccine security policies. “These commitments, and my expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make the United States be healthy again, is the basis of my support,” said Cassidy.
(Fox News)
Also read of Nigerian tribe
USA: around 75,000 federal workers accept the Trump purchase agreement