Democrats, Republicans Unite in Opposition to RFK Jr.’s Health and Human Services Appointment
By Jake Beardslee ·
January 24, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) faces escalating challenges from an unusual coalition of liberal and conservative opponents, potentially imperiling his confirmation prospects in an increasingly contentious political environment. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
Democratic lawmakers and progressive organizations have launched a comprehensive campaign targeting Kennedy's controversial stance on vaccines and public health policy. The Democratic-aligned group Protect Our Care has committed approximately $1 million to a broad awareness campaign, including television and digital advertisements highlighting potential risks to the nation's healthcare system under Kennedy's leadership. www.protectourcare.org
In a particularly pointed challenge, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) issued an extensive inquiry demanding responses to 175 questions covering a wide range of crucial health policy issues. "Given your dangerous views on vaccine safety and public health, including your baseless opposition to vaccines, and your inconsistent statements in important policy areas like reproductive rights access, I have serious concerns regarding your ability to oversee the Department," Warren wrote in her detailed letter. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The scrutiny of Kennedy's past statements has become a central focus of the opposition. His 2023 book drew particular criticism for assertions such as "[t]here is virtually no science assessing the overall health effects of the vaccination schedule or its component vaccines," a statement that has drawn sharp rebuke from public health experts. Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) articulated the Democratic position on the Senate floor, acknowledging potential common ground on food system reform while maintaining that Kennedy's vaccine skepticism poses unacceptable risks. "We don't have to bring measles and mumps back in order to fix our food system. We don't have to bring back the horrors of polio in the name of cleansing our diet," Schatz declared. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
On the conservative front, former Vice President Mike Pence's organization, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), has launched a significant opposition campaign, focusing particularly on Kennedy's historical positions on abortion rights. AAF President Tim Chapman expressed concern about the lack of due diligence in vetting Kennedy's stance on abortion issues, stating, "It is not a no-brainer for a pro-life senator to just sign up on this. I think it really requires some real due diligence, and I just don't think that's been done yet."
The political dynamics surrounding the nomination have created an unusual environment where conservative lawmakers privately express reservations while hesitating to voice public opposition. "It is a very difficult environment right now for those people to go on the record and say that. So, you know, for us, we feel like it's an obligation on our part to raise a flag, to draw attention to it, and then let the chips fall where they may," Chapman explained. HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kennedy's confirmation prospects now hang in a precarious balance. With Democrats likely to present unified opposition, he can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes. The nominee has attempted to address conservative concerns by emphasizing his commitment to implementing Trump-era anti-abortion policies, regardless of his personal views. Megan Smith-USA TODAY
The Senate Finance Committee, under Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), has scheduled Kennedy's confirmation hearing for January 29, following delays related to financial disclosure and ethics documentation. The hearing promises to be a crucial test of Kennedy's ability to navigate the complex political landscape and secure the necessary support for confirmation. Hannah Gaber-USA TODAY NETWORK
