The Senate Finance Committee first voted on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s HHS nomination on February 4, 2025, advancing it by 14-13 in an open executive session. That committee action sent the nomination to the full Senate; it did not confirm Kennedy. The Senate confirmed him on February 13 by 52-48.
What happened in the first vote?
The first vote was the Senate Finance Committee’s February 4 executive-session vote on whether to report Kennedy’s nomination favorably. The committee advanced the nomination 14-13, allowing it to proceed to the full Senate. The committee’s action was a procedural step, not the final confirmation vote.
| Date | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| January 29, 2025 | Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing | Kennedy appeared as the witness; the committee page links his testimony and responses to questions for the record. |
| January 30, 2025 | Senate HELP Committee nomination hearing | A second hearing was held, with a printed transcript linked by the committee. |
| February 4, 2025 | Finance Committee open executive session | Advanced the nomination 14-13. |
| February 13, 2025 | Full Senate confirmation vote | Confirmed Kennedy 52-48. |
The chronology is documented in the Senate Finance Committee’s January 29 hearing and February 4 executive-session records, the HELP Committee’s January 30 hearing record, and the Senate’s February 13 roll-call record.
How did the committee vote compare with the Senate’s final vote?
The two tallies refer to different stages of the nomination process. Finance’s 14-13 vote advanced Kennedy out of committee. The later 52-48 roll call was the full Senate’s confirmation decision; the official Senate record marks the nomination confirmed.
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Finance Chairman Mike Crapo defended the committee’s action on February 4, saying, “RFK Jr. has demonstrated a commitment to ending the chronic disease epidemic and improving the transparency of our health care systems.” That was Crapo’s stated rationale, not a finding recorded by the vote itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What were senators questioning Kennedy about?
The January 29 Finance hearing record centers on questions about vaccines, abortion, Medicare, Medicaid, chronic disease, and Kennedy’s readiness to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The next day, Kennedy appeared before the Senate HELP Committee for a second nomination hearing. The committees’ hearing records, rather than the vote totals, are where readers can examine the testimony and questioning.
Supporters’ case, as represented in Crapo’s February 13 statement, emphasized chronic-disease reduction, consumer choice, information transparency, and early interventions. Crapo quoted Kennedy’s vision as a “generational opportunity” to bring together people in science, medicine, industry, and government to address chronic disease. Those are attributed arguments in favor of Kennedy’s approach; they should be distinguished from the concerns raised during questioning about vaccines, abortion, and federal health programs.
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