Wed Jan 29 20:28:09 UTC 2025: ## Kennedy’s HHS Nomination Faces Scrutiny Amid Anti-Vaccine Claims

**Washington, D.C.** – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is facing intense scrutiny following a contentious Senate hearing. While Kennedy repeatedly affirmed his support for vaccines, Democrats aggressively challenged his past statements promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

Senator Ron Wyden, the committee’s top Democrat, accused Kennedy of a “life’s work” of spreading doubt about vaccines and labeled him as having embraced “conspiracy theories, quacks, and charlatans.” Other Democrats questioned Kennedy’s past claims that COVID-19 was engineered to target specific populations and that Lyme disease is a bioweapon. Kennedy attempted to justify these statements, citing unspecified federal research in one instance and admitting to making the Lyme disease claim.

Despite the Democratic criticism, Republicans, who hold a Senate majority, have largely supported Kennedy’s nomination. All of President Trump’s previous cabinet picks have been confirmed, with Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote in the Pentagon nomination.

Kennedy, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2024 before endorsing Trump, pledged to “Make America Healthy Again” if confirmed. He also stated he would uphold the Trump administration’s abortion policies. His confirmation requires 50 votes in the Senate, and he faces another hearing before a separate committee on Thursday. Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reported that the hearing saw predictable lines of questioning, with Republicans posing softer questions compared to the Democrats’ more pointed inquiries.

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