WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced intense scrutiny during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as he stumbled over basic details of Medicare and Medicaid and sparred with Democrats over his history of vaccine skepticism, financial ties to anti-pharmaceutical lawsuits, and shifting stance on abortion.
Medicare, Medicaid Missteps Draw Bipartisan Corrections
Kennedy, a longtime environmental attorney and anti-vaccine advocate, struggled to explain key aspects of the nation’s largest health care programs, which serve over 135 million Americans. He incorrectly asserted that Medicaid is “fully paid for by the federal government,” prompting bipartisan corrections from senators who noted states share costs with the federal government. He also claimed Medicaid enrollees face “high premiums and deductibles,” despite the program’s near-zero costs for low-income beneficiaries.
Further missteps emerged when Kennedy appeared unfamiliar with the agency’s role in funding community health clinics and enforcing the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires hospitals to stabilize patients regardless of ability to pay.
Vaccine Views Dominate Democratic Criticism
Democrats zeroed in on Kennedy’s controversial history of promoting vaccine misinformation, including unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism and casting doubt on COVID-19 shots. While Kennedy insisted he “supports childhood vaccines” and noted his own children are immunized, senators confronted him with past statements and his leadership of Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group he chaired until recently.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) displayed baby onesies sold by the group emblazoned with “Unvaxxed Unafraid,” accusing Kennedy of hypocrisy. Kennedy denied involvement in the merchandise and distanced himself from the organization.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) grilled Kennedy over his financial ties to a lawsuit against Merck, manufacturer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, from which he earned $850,000 last year. She warned that as HHS secretary, he could manipulate vaccine policies to benefit similar lawsuits, citing risks of appointing anti-vaccine advocates to advisory panels or altering injury compensation programs. Kennedy declined to commit to divesting from such litigation.
Abortion Stance Splits Parties
Kennedy’s evolving position on abortion also sparked friction. Once a self-described supporter of abortion access during his 2024 Democratic presidential bid, he now describes each abortion as a “tragedy” and pledged to follow Trump’s policies. Republicans, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), signaled cautious support after Kennedy assured them he would adhere to the administration’s anti-abortion agenda. Democrats, however, criticized his plans to review the abortion pill mifepristone, which has been deemed safe for decades.
GOP Support Holds Amid Democratic Opposition
Despite the contentious hearing, Kennedy retained Republican backing, with several lawmakers praising his focus on food additives and federally funded school lunch programs. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician and pivotal vote, remained noncommittal ahead of a second hearing Thursday. Republicans largely dismissed Democratic attacks as partisan, with some arguing Kennedy emerged “unscathed.”
Controversial Claims on Antidepressants, School Shootings
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) challenged Kennedy over his past suggestion that antidepressants contribute to school shootings, calling the claim “dangerous” and stigmatizing to mental health patients. Kennedy offered no evidence but acknowledged the need for further research.
Path to Confirmation
Kennedy needs a simple majority in the evenly split Senate, requiring near-unanimous Republican support if Democrats oppose him en masse. While conservatives like former Vice President Mike Pence have criticized his abortion record, most GOP senators appeared receptive to his populist health care agenda.
The hearing underscored deep partisan divides over Kennedy’s preparedness and ideology, setting the stage for a tightly contested confirmation vote. As the nation’s top health official, Kennedy would oversee a $1.7 trillion budget and critical programs affecting millions—a role Democrats argue demands clarity, credibility, and a firm commitment to science.
