{"id":2401853,"date":"2025-02-12T13:17:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T18:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-on-glide-path-to-confirmation-after-clearing-first-vote-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-12T13:18:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T18:18:49","slug":"rfk-jr-on-glide-path-to-confirmation-after-clearing-first-vote-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-on-glide-path-to-confirmation-after-clearing-first-vote-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"RFK Jr. on glide path to confirmation after clearing first vote &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frfk-jr-on-glide-path-to-confirmation-after-clearing-first-vote-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2401853&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the \u2063recent \u2063Senate vote advancing Robert F.Kennedy Jr. as President Donald\u200b Trump\u2019s nominee for Health and\u200c Human Services Secretary, marking a key step towards his confirmation. The vote, which passed 53-47 along \u200dparty lines, reflects Kennedy&#8217;s efforts to gain\u200d support from Republican \u200bsenators \u200ddespite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-inappropriately-used-spy-powers-on-u-s-senator-court-says\/\" title=\"FBI Misused Spy Powers on U.S. Senator, Court Rules\">initial skepticism due<\/a> to \u200bhis controversial views on vaccines and \u200dpublic health. Senate Majority Leader John Thune noted that many Americans have lost trust in health authorities,a sentiment that Kennedy\u200b aims to address with commitments to increase oversight and openness.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats opposed his nomination, criticizing him as a leading figure of the\u2063 modern anti-vaccine movement.Kennedy, who previously \u2062ran for president but endorsed \u2062Trump, has positioned \u200chimself to\u200d win\u200d over GOP\u200b holdouts by promising to preserve CDC \u200bguidelines\u2062 and engage in open communication with concerned senators. Key Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy \u2063and Lisa Murkowski, ultimately supported his nomination after Kennedy assured them of his commitment to \u200dproper health management and funding reconsiderations\u2064 for the National Institutes of Health, amidst recent budget cuts by the Trump administration. <\/p>\n<p>Kennedy is expected to be confirmed shortly, \u2063with his new role seen\u200b as pivotal in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">addressing \u2062ongoing public health \u200dchallenges<\/a> in America&#8217;s healthcare landscape.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">RFK Jr. on glide path to become HHS secretary after clearing first Senate vote<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1960444\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Senate voted Wednesday to advance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rfk-jr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> to be President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/health-and-human-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"health and human services secretary\">health and human services secretary<\/a>, teeing him up for confirmation Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The GOP-controlled chamber voted along party lines, 53-47, on a procedural move to end debate.<\/p>\n<p>Once on shaky ground with several Republicans over his history of vaccine skepticism and promoting public health conspiracies, Kennedy has steadily won over holdouts in recent weeks by pledging increased congressional oversight.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Many Americans&rsquo; trust in health authorities has eroded in recent years, with the pandemic being a big factor,&rdquo; said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). &ldquo;A lot of Americans grew frustrated with confusing and sometimes contradictory guidance from government agencies.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats voted in unison against Kennedy, a legacy Democrat and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. He gained national prominence in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/faucis-media-farewell-tour-has-begun\/\" title=\"Fauci\u2019s Media Farewell Tour Has Begun\">public health arena<\/a> as vaccine hesitancy increased due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He is the face of the modern antivaccine movement,&rdquo; said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). &ldquo;Will Republicans do the right thing for the American public health, or will they do whatever is necessary to keep Donald Trump happy, no matter how misguided?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy dropped his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-on-glidepath-to-confirmation-after-clearing-first-vote-washington-examiner\/\" title=\".... on glidepath to ... after clearing first ... - ... Examiner\">ill-fated 2024 presidential run<\/a> to endorse Trump at a critical moment last year and has since been embraced by the MAGA base with a promise to &ldquo;Make America Healthy Again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy is expected to be confirmed around 7 a.m. Thursday, a timeline that was not pushed back as part of a timing agreement after a vote scheduled for earlier Wednesday was delayed due to a Washington-area snowstorm. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Donald Trump&rsquo;s nominee to serve as secretary of health and human services, testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing for his pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a former physician who clashed with Kennedy during confirmation hearings over his vaccine skepticism, came around in support of the nominee after &ldquo;very intense conversations&rdquo; with Kennedy and Vice President JD Vance. Cassidy is facing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3307494\/conservatives-watch-bill-cassidy-vote-rfk-jr-confirmation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">immense political pressure<\/a>&nbsp;from fellow Republicans as he prepares for a 2026 reelection against a conservative primary challenger, a campaign that would have been further jeopardized by opposing Kennedy.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy pledged to give Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, input on HHS hiring decisions, increased oversight, and regular meetings. Kennedy also vowed to preserve recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&rsquo;s Advisory Committee on vaccines and CDC language on its site to the effect that vaccines do not cause autism.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) voted to advance Kennedy but told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he remained undecided on final confirmation for unspecified reasons. He indicated he was leaning toward a &ldquo;yes&rdquo; vote, citing Cassidy&rsquo;s position and experience as a physician. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s fair to say that was pretty influential,&rdquo; Curtis said of Cassidy.<\/p>\n<p>Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)<strong> <\/strong>and Susan Collins (R-ME), who opposed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, expressed initial concern about Kennedy but ultimately voted to advance his nomination. Both will support his confirmation, but Murkowski said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lisamurkowski\/status\/1889727179426287910\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"statement \">statement <\/a>she continued to have &ldquo;concerns about Mr. Kennedy&rsquo;s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Murkowski concluded she was satisfied with Kennedy&rsquo;s commitments to senators and his unaccustomed road map to &ldquo;Make America Healthy Again.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Instead of focusing on who covers our exorbitant healthcare costs, we need to reduce these costs by directing our attention to prevention and keeping people healthy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This is the appeal of RFK, and many Alaskans have shared that view with me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kennedy faced a last-minute wrinkle in his confirmation battle after the Trump administration slashed $4 billion from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3315043\/nih-cutting-overhead-funding-for-research-at-universities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Institutes of Health<\/a>&nbsp;medical research grants and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3316253\/trump-gop-senators-heartburn-nih-spending-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">sparked backlash from GOP senators<\/a> whose home state universities and hospitals stand to lose substantial federal aid.<\/p>\n<p>The NIH is housed under HHS, prompting Kennedy to offer senators commitments that he would reevaluate the push to reduce the funding. The administration defended the cuts as eliminating wasteful administrative costs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1960444\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1960444\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RFK Jr. moves closer to HHS secretary role after Senate vote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2401854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rfk-jr-wins-cautious-support-from-pro-life-groups.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[16629,5894,32458,32076],"class_list":["post-2401853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-confirmation","tag-politics","tag-rfk-jr","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rfk-jr-wins-cautious-support-from-pro-life-groups.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2401853"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2401857,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401853\/revisions\/2401857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2401854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2401853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2401853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2401853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}