The confirmations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard for secretary of Health and Human Services and director of national intelligence, respectively, are hanging in the balance due to Republican senators’ comments at recent hearings.
According to GOP senators, a “no” vote from any of them could block the nominations from receiving committee recommendations, ultimately preventing floor votes or making them highly unlikely.
Kennedy’s nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee, with Sen. Bill Cassidy expressing concerns over Kennedy’s views on vaccines during a hearing. Meanwhile, Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence has sparked scrutiny from some senators, including Sen. Susan Collins, who questioned her stance on Edward Snowden.
Gabbard’s answers to questions about Snowden and wiretaps under Section 702 of FISA were met with skepticism by several senators, including Sen. James Lankford, who described the answer as a “softball question” that was not an easy one. Despite this, President-elect Trump’s transition team believes Gabbard can still receive confirmation even if some GOP senators vote against her.
As the weekend approaches, both Kennedy and Gabbard must contend with uncertainty over their confirmations, which could be influenced by public opposition to Gabbard’s views on Snowden.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/31/senate-republicans-trump-gabbard-rfk