RFK Jr. Prepares for HHS Confirmation Hearings

Kennedy will attend a confirmation hearing on January 29 with the Senate Committee on Finance, which is responsible for overseeing HHS.

On January 30, he will participate in a forum organized by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

While Kennedy, a former Democrat and independent presidential candidate, will be answering queries from both committees, only the Senate Finance Committee will cast a vote on his advancement to a full Senate floor vote.

To secure confirmation, Kennedy requires a simple majority, with Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate.

Grassroots groups and various lawmakers support Kennedy’s views on vaccine safety, the removal of chemicals from the American food supply, and the reduction of corporate influence over government health agencies.

Conversely, several health advocacy organizations, many Democratic officials, and certain Republican legislators have expressed concerns regarding his perspectives on these issues, labeling him as “dangerous.”

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An environmental lawyer and founder of Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy formerly ran for president as a Democrat and subsequently as an independent before exiting the race in August 2024 to endorse Trump.

Key aspects of Kennedy’s campaign platform included tackling chronic diseases, enhancing children’s health, and addressing corporate influence on governmental agencies.

If confirmed, he will lead a department responsible for 13 agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Kennedy has committed to implementing major reforms throughout the department.

He has consistently stated that significant changes cannot occur until the dominance of large private corporations over the FDA, the CDC, and the Department of Agriculture is confronted.

He has also promised to spearhead initiatives aimed at eliminating chemicals from ultra-processed foods.

Kennedy has advocated for a reassessment of the advertising rules for pharmaceutical companies multiple times this year and has urged Trump to prohibit pharmaceutical ads on television. He also supports revoking the liability protections afforded to drug manufacturers.

During the hearings, Kennedy is expected to answer questions regarding his position on vaccines, the presence of fluoride in drinking water, food safety, and abortion, among other issues.

Supporters and Detractors

Views on Kennedy are polarized.

He has garnered support from Senators such as Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), to name a few.

In December 2024, the congressional Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) caucus was established to foster partnerships with local, state, and federal officials interested in MAHA initiatives.

The founding members include Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Sayer Ji, founder of the Global Wellness Forum, commented to The Epoch Times on January 28, stating that the hearings are “not merely political events” but represent a “historical moment where the voice of the people may finally prevail over predatory globalism.”

Anthony Lyons, co-founder of American Values, a Kennedy-aligned PAC, characterized Kennedy as “a corruption fighter like his uncle and his father.”

“He will introduce top-tier science to replace the corporate dominance that has contributed to the epidemic of chronic diseases,” he asserted.

Critics have been particularly vocal about Kennedy’s vaccine opinions, despite his advocacy for safety and informed consent.

“I’ve never been against vaccines. Individuals should have a choice, and that choice should be informed by the best available information,” Kennedy expressed to The Epoch Times in September 2024. “I will ensure that scientifically-based safety studies are accessible, enabling individuals to assess whether a vaccine is suitable for them.”

Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) remarked earlier this week, “We cannot trust RFK Jr. to safeguard our health. His record provides no basis for such trust.”

Protect Our Care, a progressive advocacy organization, announced in December 2024 the launch of its “Stop RFK War Room,” which features a multimedia campaign across several states urging senators to oppose Kennedy’s nomination.

Peter G. Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stated, “Nominating an anti-vaxxer like Kennedy to HHS is akin to appointing a Flat Earther to lead NASA.”

“He aims to ensure transparency regarding vaccine information, enabling individuals to make their own decisions. He isn’t seeking to prevent others from receiving vaccines,” Lummis commented. “I am completely at ease with his vaccine stance.”

Abortion remains one of the most contentious issues related to Kennedy’s prospective role as HHS secretary.

He later clarified his position, saying that abortion should be “unrestricted until a certain point,” while advocating for policies aimed at reducing the number of abortions in the U.S. “by choice rather than by compulsion.”

Kennedy previously told The Epoch Times that he personally disapproves of abortion but believes the government should not have “authority over individuals’ bodies.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence has urged Republican senators to reject Kennedy’s nomination due to his abortion stance. Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has become one of the most vocal opponents of Kennedy’s nomination for HHS secretary.

Earlier this January, the organization dispatched a letter to senators requesting that they oppose Kennedy’s confirmation.

Following his meetings with Republican senators last month, Kennedy assured them that he would support Trump’s agenda.

After meeting with Kennedy on December 17, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) expressed on X that Kennedy committed to reinstating Trump’s pro-life policies at HHS. This encompasses restoring the Mexico City policy and ceasing taxpayer funding for abortions domestically.

Hawley also stated that Kennedy pledged to support a ban on “Title X funds being allocated to organizations that promote abortion” and that all his HHS deputies would maintain a pro-life position.