RFK Jr.’s once-wobbly health chief nomination advances in Senate

AXIOS February 12, 2025
Kathleen Hunter

The Senate paved the way for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, voting 53-47 along party lines to advance his nomination.

Why it matters: Kennedy now has a clear path to confirmation later this week, despite bipartisan concerns about his record as a vaccine skeptic and other questions about past stances.

• While some Senate Republicans initially expressed concerns about Kennedy’s fitness for the role, all 53 of them supported moving forward with his nomination Wednesday.

Catch up quick: During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy flubbed basics on Medicare and Medicaid, backtracked on past vaccine and abortion stances, and was vague about how closely he’d hew to President Trump’s policies.

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