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Senate Confirms Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as HHS Secretary Amid Concerns
On Thursday, the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with a narrow result of 52-48, largely split along party lines. Kennedy has garnered attention for promoting views that have been widely criticized as misinformation regarding vaccines.
The only Republican senator to dissent against Kennedy’s confirmation was Mitch McConnell from Kentucky. Notably, McConnell was also the sole GOP member who opposed the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence just a day prior.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, had voiced initial concerns regarding Kennedy’s potential leadership, given his controversial stance on public health issues. However, during a floor address delivered on February 4, Cassidy indicated he would support Kennedy after receiving assurances regarding his role in HHS hiring processes, an agreement to refrain from establishing parallel systems for vaccine approvals and monitoring, and a commitment to maintain information on the CDC’s website that clarifies vaccines do not cause autism.
During the confirmation hearings, Democratic senators raised alarms about Kennedy’s comments suggesting he intended to terminate a significant number of federal staff at both HHS and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In response, Kennedy defended his position, stating his intention was to remove individuals he deemed “corrupt” or non-performing in their roles.
As part of ongoing efforts from the Trump administration to curtail federal expenses, the NIH placed a cap of 15% on indirect costs associated with its research grants on February 7, which typically cover administrative expenses and facility funding. However, a federal judge recently temporarily blocked this policy adjustment pending further review.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticized the indirect cost cap, asserting that it contravenes federal law. She expressed concern over the potential devastating impact these cuts could have on biomedical research and job security in her state, highlighting feedback from institutions such as the Jackson Laboratory and Maine Medical Center Research Institute. In a statement, she remarked, “These cuts, which in some cases would apply retroactively to existing grants, would be devastating, stopping vital biomedical research and leading to the loss of jobs,” as reported in her communication.
Following the confirmation, Collins mentioned that Kennedy had assured her he would reevaluate the 15% cap imposed on indirect costs.
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