Beneath rigorous questioning from senators Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid out his imaginative and prescient to steer the Division of Well being and Human Providers whereas backtracking on his previous statements in assist of abortion and in opposition to vaccines.

Kennedy, a former unbiased presidential candidate, is one among President Donald Trump’s extra unorthodox Cupboard picks, as his nomination has drawn skepticism from these on the left and the best.

Whereas probably the most aggressive traces of inquiry throughout his 3½-hour look earlier than the Senate Finance Committee got here from Democrats, Kennedy additionally stumbled going through questioning from Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., a physician who is anticipated to play a pivotal function in his affirmation, on the problem of Medicaid.

Kennedy mentioned Medicaid premiums and deductibles had been too excessive, saying most individuals who use this system are “not pleased.” However most Medicaid enrollees do not pay premiums or deductibles.

Cassidy chairs the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which Kennedy will testify earlier than Thursday. He ignored questions from NBC Information about whether or not he was able to assist Kennedy after the listening to.

Democrats repeatedly introduced up Kennedy’s lengthy historical past of vaccine skepticism Wednesday. In his opening assertion, he sought to get forward of assaults on the problem, prompting a short eruption from a protester within the gallery.

“Information reviews have claimed that I’m anti-vaccine or anti-industry,” Kennedy mentioned.

“You might be!” the particular person yelled earlier than being ushered out of the chamber.

Kennedy continued: “I’m neither; I’m pro-safety. I labored for years to lift consciousness in regards to the mercury and poisonous chemical compounds in fish, however that didn’t make me anti-fish. All of my youngsters are vaccinated, and I consider vaccines have a vital function in well being care.”

Early on within the listening to, Kennedy and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the rating member of the committee, engaged in a heated trade as Wyden tried to nail down Kennedy’s stance on the measles vaccine.

“Is measles lethal, sure or no?” Wyden requested Kennedy, who did not immediately reply the query. Kennedy contended once more that he wasn’t anti-vaccine.

Wyden pressed Kennedy about his feedback on a 2023 podcast through which he mentioned, “There’s no vaccine that’s protected and efficient.”

“Mr. Kennedy, all of these items can’t be true. So are you mendacity to Congress at this time whenever you say you’re pro-vaccine?” Wyden mentioned.

Kennedy claimed statements he made on podcasts have “been repeatedly debunked.”

He additionally contended he would not dissuade folks from getting sure vaccines.

“I assist the measles vaccine. I assist the polio vaccine. I’ll do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it troublesome or discourages folks from taking something,” he mentioned.

At one other level, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., grew fiery as he challenged Kennedy on a few of his previous statements.

“Did you say that Lyme illness is very probably, a materially engineered bioweapon? Did you say Lyme illness is a extremely probably militarily engineered bioweapon?”

“I most likely did say that,” Kennedy mentioned.

Bennet then requested Kennedy about his previous feedback supporting abortion rights. When Kennedy started to quibble, Bennet interrupted.

“This issues!” he mentioned, his voice rising. “It is a job the place it’s life and dying … for households throughout this nation.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., famous that as Kennedy contended earlier than the committee that he did not oppose vaccines, Youngsters’s Well being Protection, an anti-vaccine group he based, was promoting onesies on-line Wednesday that learn “Unvaxxed Unafraid” and “No Vax. No downside.”

Sanders pressed Kennedy about whether or not he would urge the group to take the merchandise down since he helps vaccines. Kennedy mentioned he not held a publish with the group.

Senators in each events additionally put Kennedy’s previous feedback in assist of abortion rights underneath the microscope.

Final 12 months, whereas he was working for president, Kennedy instructed a podcast host that he would assist permitting ladies to have abortions at full time period if that was their alternative.

However simply days later, he walked his place again, writing on X that “abortion needs to be authorized up till a sure variety of weeks, and restricted thereafter.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., requested Kennedy whether or not federal regulation protects a pregnant lady’s proper to emergency care if she has a life-threatening, incomplete miscarriage in an emergency room in a state the place abortion is restricted.

“I don’t know,” Kennedy mentioned. “The reply is I don’t know.”

Beneath questioning from Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Kennedy mentioned he believed legal guidelines about abortion needs to be as much as the states to resolve. He then outlined Trump’s stances on abortion, together with wanting to finish federal funding and late-term abortions. 

“I agree with President Trump that each abortion is a tragedy,” Kennedy mentioned. “I serve on the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his insurance policies.”

In one other notable trade, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tried to extract a promise that Kennedy would not depart his function at HHS and revenue from insurance policies he helped put in place.

“I need to know if you’ll commit proper now that not solely will you not go to work for drug firms, you received’t go to work suing the drug firms and taking your rake out of that when you’re a secretary and for 4 years afterward?” Warren mentioned.

Kennedy would say solely that he would not take that cash whereas he’s well being and human companies secretary. Warren pressed on, saying he wasn’t answering the query.

“Senator, you’re asking me to not sue vaccine — pharmaceutical firms,” Kennedy interrupted.

“No, I’m not!” Warren exclaimed, elevating her voice.

Kennedy additionally tried to allay any issues about his views on diet. Whereas he spoke in regards to the rise in power ailments and components in meals, he additionally famous that his “boss” likes to eat a McDonald’s cheeseburger and drink a Weight loss plan Coke.

“It is best to have the ability to do this,” Kennedy mentioned to some chuckles about Trump’s penchant for consuming quick meals. “However you must know what the impacts are on your loved ones and your well being.”

As head of HHS, Kennedy would oversee highly effective companies, together with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Meals and Drug Administration, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers. 

He can afford to lose the assist of solely three Republicans if Democrats unite in opposition to him when the total Senate votes on his nomination. To date, no Republican senators have publicly opposed him.

After Wednesday’s listening to, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a Finance Committee member who faces re-election in 2026, mentioned he thought Kennedy cleared up his stance on vaccines.

“I’m in a presumptive lean sure place, and all the things he did at this time hasn’t eroded that place,” Tillis mentioned.