GOP unease with RFK Jr. builds ahead of high-profile hearing
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Kennedy during an appearance in Austin, Texas, last month. Photo: Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images
Republican senators are growing impatient with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and vowing to use a high-profile hearing Thursday to crank up oversight following last week's ouster of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez.
Why it matters: Kennedy has had relatively free rein to shake up health policy, and President Trump has his back, but criticism from the Hill GOP would be the first public sign that he could be reeled in.
What they're saying: "I need to know why ... his words in his confirmation hearing aren't matching up with some of the deeds," said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, where Kennedy will testify about the administration's health agenda.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Semafor that Kennedy will face "hard questions," noting the Senate went through the work of confirming Monarez only to have her removed from office after just a month.
- "I want the chaos to stop," said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). "You can't have the institution of public health in turmoil."
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), another panel member, said "of course" when asked if he has questions about Monarez's firing.
But Cornyn deferred to the White House on questions about Kennedy's future at Health and Human Services.
- "He works for the president, the president can fire him any time he wants, but our role is really just to do oversight, which we'll do [Thursday], but it's up to the president," Cornyn said.
- Democrats have been vehement in their criticism of Kennedy, accusing him of putting the public in danger, stoking misinformation and gutting evidence-based research. But with the GOP controlling the levers of power, the Democrats are secondary players in the unfolding drama.
The big picture: So far, Trump hasn't shown concern over Kennedy's limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines, cutting funding for research on mRNA shots or raising doubts about their safety and effectiveness.
- Concerns from congressional Republicans can eventually add up and weigh on Trump, though.
- While GOP senators still are choosing their words carefully, there's a belief in some circles that Kennedy could be a liability heading into the midterm elections.
- A KFF poll last month found that just 37% of the public have a great deal or fair amount of trust in Kennedy, though 4 in 10 said they don't know enough to characterize the scope of changes he's made to vaccine policy.
Between the lines: Senate health committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician who supplied a key vote to advance Kennedy's nomination despite concern about his vaccine views, is urging patience.
- "We're in a process ... so let's just go through that process," Cassidy told Axios Tuesday night when asked if he is frustrated with Kennedy.
- Cassidy said he is still figuring out if his health committee will have its own hearing on the CDC turmoil, but added "we will certainly have oversight."
Yes, but: Some GOP senators are also full-on defending Kennedy, revealing divisions within the caucus.
- "Vaccines have had a place but that can't be a one-trick pony," said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), a physician who said he wants the CDC to focus more on chronic disease.
- Marshall added that Trump "selected Bobby Kennedy Jr. for this job because he's a disruptor."
