On February 4, 2025, U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with a vote of 14 in favor and 13 against. The nomination will now be submitted to the full Senate for final confirmation.
The 14 favorable votes came from all 14 Republican senators, led by Bill Cassidy, while the 13 opposing votes came from 13 Democratic senators.
Notably, Cassidy had expressed his differing views from Kennedy during last week’s hearing. In the hearing, Kennedy insisted that childhood vaccines cause autism. On the other hand, Cassidy stated that science clearly shows that measles and other childhood vaccines are safe and not linked to autism.
Experts at last week's hearing mentioned that Kennedy lacked the fundamental skills required for the position of HHS Secretary and believed that if he were confirmed, it would further damage public trust in vaccines. This concern is not without merit. Following the announcement of the favorable vote for Kennedy, several vaccine companies listed on the NASDAQ, including Moderna, Pfizer, and BioNTech, saw their stocks decline.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services testifies during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Given their differing views, why did Cassidy ultimately vote for Kennedy?
According to foreign media reports, in this critical vote, Kennedy promised Cassidy that if confirmed to lead HHS, he would operate within the existing vaccine approval and safety framework and would not remove the statements on relevant websites clarifying that vaccines do not cause autism. Additionally, Kennedy promised to meet or communicate with Cassidy multiple times each month and seek his input on hiring decisions, even for positions that do not require Senate approval. The latter indicates not only Cassidy’s key role in Kennedy's HHS but also suggests, as rumored, that the HHS under Kennedy could undergo a major shake-up if he is confirmed.
“HHS needs a leader who will guide President Trump’s agenda and make America healthy again,” Cassidy said in his speech. “Based on Mr. Kennedy's assurances about vaccines and his positive impact on the health of Americans, I believe he will get the job done.”
Another issue concerning the upcoming U.S. government transition is how the Trump administration will handle drug price negotiations under the IRA Act, signed during the Biden administration. In the hearing last week, Kennedy clearly stated, “We need to lower prices for the elderly in this country,” showing support for this stance.
Regarding drug price negotiations, last week’s CMS press release also stated that lowering prescription drug costs for Americans is the Trump administration's top priority. As the second term of the Trump administration begins, CMS is committed to integrating the lessons learned from the program thus far and considering opportunities to increase transparency in the negotiation process.
In short, the drug price negotiation plan will continue, but its form is yet to be determined.
