KFF Health News reporters break down the biggest takeaways from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearings for secretary of Health and Human Services.

In one of the most tense exchanges in a heated confirmation hearing, Senator Angela Alsobrooks called out past comments RFK Jr. made suggesting a different vaccine schedule for Black people.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for health secretary, vigorously defended his views on vaccines, and a key senator still has clear doubts.

Kennedy refused to flatly reject a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism, despite years of studies and research that have found they do not.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and key G.O.P. vote, joined Democrats in aggressively questioning Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for health secretary. He did not say how he would vote.

In a make-or-break hearing, Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went before a second committee and it revealed Republican doubts about him. Lisa Desjardins reports on where lawmakers' support stands.

The takeaways after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced questions from senators during his confirmation hearings to potentially lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Alexandra Sifferlin, a health and science editor for Times Opinion, hosted an online conversation on Wednesday with the Opinion columnist Zeynep Tufekci and the Opinion writers David Wallace-Wells and Jessica Grose about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first of two confirmation hearings for secretary of health and human services.

The issue isn’t only his troubling views but whether a complex federal agency can function effectively under his leadership.

Three cabinet nominees ‒ Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel ‒ faced a questions from Senate confirmation hearings Thursday.

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Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, concluded Thursday's hearing by saying he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's vaccine positions. Kennedy notably refused to say vaccines don't cause autism as he faced pointed question from lawmakers.