PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ONE STEP CLOSER to getting his desired team in place after Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received backing from Republicans on key Senate committees Tuesday, dramatically improving the chances that both nominees will be confirmed.
The Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines to advance Kennedy’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a doctor and vaccine advocate, had the power to potentially torpedo Kennedy’s nomination.
Cassidy instead voted to confirm, saying he’d received “serious commitments” on vaccine policy from Kennedy, Vice President Vance and others in the Trump administration.
“My expectation that we can have a great working relationship to make America healthy again is the basis of my support,” Cassidy said.
Gabbard faced a steeper climb, with several GOP senators on the Senate Intelligence Committee expressing deep reservations about her nomination and withholding their support until the final moments before the panel vote.
Ultimately, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jerry Moran (R-Ind.) came around.
“I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard’s engagement with me on a variety of issues to ensure that our intelligence professionals will be supported and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership,” Young posted on X.
With those Republicans on board, it seems likely that Kennedy and Gabbard will be confirmed by the full Senate, where the GOP holds a 53-47 majority.
The spotlight now falls on Kash Patel, who Trump tapped to lead the FBI, as the lone outstanding controversial nominee.
Patel’s committee vote has not been set yet.
