Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, testified Wednesday before a crucial Senate panel, where he faced questions about past vaccine skepticism, his evolving views on abortion and grasp on sprawling federal health programs.
Kennedy, 71, appeared first before the Senate Committee on Finance, which will vote on whether his nomination as HHS secretary advances to the full chamber. In the Republican-controlled Senate, Kennedy can lose only three GOP votes if all Democrats oppose him.
He will also appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for a courtesy hearing Thursday.
Senators grilled him Wednesday on his views on matters ranging from vaccines to abortion, and he sidestepped many of those questions. He also struggled to answer some questions about Medicare and Medicaid, and often said he would defer to Trump on policies…
