Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s long road over the past two years started when he ran for president as a Democrat, and then as an independent, before leaving the race to back Republican President Donald Trump. After Trump won, he was nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pursue what Kennedy called a “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.
The fate of his next step will be known when the Senate votes on his nomination, which could happen this week.
In a partisan vote on Feb. 4, the Republican-controlled Senate Committee on Finance voted 14–13 to advance Kennedy’s nomination to the Senate floor for a full vote.
Every Democrat on the committee opposed Kennedy’s nomination.
The Senate last week also voted for cloture 52–47 on Kennedy’s nomination.
On Feb. 6, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said about the confirmations of Kennedy and director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, “There’s never any guarantees, but we’re trending in the right direction.”
On Feb. 10, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told CNN that she would vote to confirm Kennedy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told The Epoch Times on Feb. 10 that she had made a decision on Kennedy but did not disclose how she would vote. The Epoch Times asked Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) about Kennedy’s confirmation on Feb. 10, and he replied, “I’m on my way to voting,” and hurried away.
Before the Senate Finance Committee decided to advance Kennedy to a full Senate vote, chairman Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said, “Mr. Kennedy has also clearly responded to our questions during the rigorous due diligence process, his hearing, and in the course of answering over 900 questions for the record that were asked by members of this committee.”
“In response to Members of this Committee, Mr. Kennedy has even amended his ethics agreement, going beyond what is required by the Office of Government Ethics,” Crapo said, before noting that he will “vote in favor of [Kennedy’s] nomination.”
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was outspoken against Kennedy’s nomination during the Senate Finance Committee’s confirmation hearing. When the committee convened to vote last week, he reiterated his disapproval.
“A recent analysis showed that Mr. Kennedy has made 114 separate appearances in the last four years where he espoused anti-vaccine views or spread misinformation about the efficacy of vaccines,” Wyden said. “In 36 of those instances, Mr. Kennedy directly linked vaccines to autism.
“Last week, Mr. Kennedy was given ample opportunity on a bipartisan basis to recant his decades-long career peddling anti-vaccine conspiracies. Instead, he dodged and weaved, and gave no indication that if confirmed as HHS Secretary, he would stand by the long-settled science surrounding routine vaccinations.”
Fighting chronic disease, improving children’s health, and addressing corporate influence on government agencies were vital parts of Kennedy’s stated presidential campaign platform.
If confirmed as HHS secretary, he would head a department that manages 13 agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Kennedy has promised significant changes throughout the department.
Republicans in Congress have established groups to promote MAHA initiatives.
In December 2024, a group of Republican senators announced the formation of the “Make America Healthy Again Caucus” to cultivate partnerships with local, state, and federal officials who are interested in MAHA initiatives.
The founding members are Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).
Reps. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Lloyd K. Smucker (R-Pa.) introduced a counterpart caucus in the House of Representatives.
Grassroots organizations propelled Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign and have continued their commitment with the creation of the MAHA movement, coined after Kennedy departed the race in August 2024 and backed President Donald Trump.
Del Bigtree is host of “The HighWire” and founder of the Informed Consent Action Network. He served as Kennedy’s communications director during the candidate’s presidential campaign and is now CEO of the MAHA Action PAC.
After the Senate Finance Committee vote last week, Bigtree said in a statement that grassroots efforts have had an effect during Kennedy’s confirmation process.
“It has been widely reported that the calls and visits to the Senate from MAHA moms in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the largest grassroots movement for a Cabinet nominee that senators have seen in their careers,” Bigtree said.
“This is a testament to Robert F. Kennedy’s leadership and the undeniable truth, which is that Americans want to see him confirmed, and that Americans want to be healthy.”
“The grassroots movement behind Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation fight proves that real change rises from the ground up,” Ji told The Epoch Times on Feb. 8.
“While senators parroted pharmaceutical talking points and corporate interests worked to silence him, it was the people—the increasingly vocal, once-silent majority—who stepped up.
“They wrote letters, made calls, showed up, and refused to back down. They reminded the establishment that political survival depends not on industry dollars but on the will of the people.”
Bigtree said the MAHA movement extends beyond Kennedy’s confirmation—it is a long-term initiative.
Ji echoed Bigtree’s comments.
“This movement isn’t just about one confirmation—it’s about reclaiming medical freedom, bodily autonomy, and the right to informed choice,” he told The Epoch Times.
“The future of MAHA is in the hands of this awakening majority.
“It’s no longer a niche issue; it’s a demand for accountability, transparency, and an end to policies that put profit over people.”
Critics remain vocal about Kennedy’s views on vaccines, even as he has advocated safety and informed consent.
“I’ve never been anti-vaccine,” Kennedy told The Epoch Times in September 2024. “People should have a choice, and that choice should be informed by the best information possible. I’m going to ensure that there are science-based safety studies available, and people can make their own assessments about whether a vaccine is good for them.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said last month: “We can’t trust RFK Jr. to protect our health. There is nothing in his record to show we can trust him.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was considered a potential swing vote for Kennedy’s confirmation, but on Feb. 6, he said in a post on social media platform X that he will be voting against the nominations of Gabbard and Kennedy.
Kennedy needs a simple majority to gain confirmation and start his role as HHS secretary. Republicans hold a 53–47 advantage in the Senate. Cassidy was seen as a potential hurdle to Kennedy advancing out of the Senate Finance Committee.
During the committee vote, Cassidy explained why he chose to support the Children’s Health Defense founder.
“While I’m aligned with Mr. Kennedy as regards ultra-processed food, reforming NIH, and taking on chronic disease, once more, it leaves vaccines,” Cassidy said, adding that Kennedy and the Trump administration had reached out to him to reassure him regarding “their commitment to protecting the public health benefit of vaccination.”
According to Cassidy, Kennedy and the Trump administration told him that Kennedy, if confirmed, would have a close collaborative working relationship with Cassidy.
“We will meet or speak multiple times a month,” Cassidy said. “This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective.”
Cassidy also noted that Kennedy has asked for his “input into hiring decisions at HHS beyond Senate confirmed positions“ and has also committed to working “within current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems” rather than establishing parallel systems.
“If confirmed, I look forward to working together with Mr. Kennedy to achieve President Trump’s mission of improving the health of all Americans,” the Republican doctor said.
