They voted in unison for the prominent purveyor of vaccine misinformation even as it became even clearer that they were losing this battle on the right.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee could vote as soon as Tuesday on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services, the cabinet position in charge of protecting the health of the American people.

During health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Jan. 29 Senate confirmation hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., grilled Kennedy over his involvement in lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers.

GOP senators say they'll keep a close eye on RFK Jr., the long-time vaccine critic poised for the U.S.'s top health care role.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, whose “yes” vote advanced Kennedy’s nomination as health secretary, said Kennedy promised to maintain a key CDC vaccine panel without change.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told senators he would apologize if data shows vaccines don’t cause autism, but he cited a poorly conducted study to counter the dozens that show they do not.

In one of the most tense exchanges in a heated confirmation hearing, Senator Angela Alsobrooks called out past comments RFK Jr. made suggesting a different vaccine schedule for Black people.

Kennedy, who has refused to acknowledge vaccines don’t cause autism, later won the support of a key Senate committee, getting a step closer to confirmation.

Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump shake hands during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena on August 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Rebecca Noble/