RFK JR, Tulsi Gabbard Clear First Vote for Senate Confirmation

Robert F Kennedy JR and Tulsi Gabbard have cleared a key obstacle on the way to the Senate confirmation for the roles of the cabinet that the president of the United States, Donald Trump, nominated them to assume.

Kennedy was used to be the next Secretary of Health of the United States, while Gabbard was chosen to serve as National Intelligence Director. Both are considered controversial options and it was not certain that they would have enough support for a complete vote of the Senate.

But, on Tuesday, Kennedy was approved by the Senate Finance Committee in a 14-13 vote that was divided into the party lines. Only Republicans voted in favor of him.

Meanwhile, Gabbard survived a close vote of 9-8 before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which was also divided into the party lines.

Both nominations will now go to a vote before the United States Complete Senate, which Republicans control 53-47.

During the confirmation process, Kennedy received some opposition from the legislators of both parties due to their skepticism of vaccines. Some also questioned whether he was an expert in health matters, including public health and medical care programs in the United States, to assume the role.

However, much of its audiences passed, insisting that vaccines were not opposed, or a conspiracy theorist, but only supports more strict security tests.

Even so, the senators often focused on their previous comments, including an appearance of podcast where he said: “There is no vaccine that is safe and effective.”

Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who organizes and works with the Democrats, praised the slogan of “Make America Again Again” by Kennedy. But the senator then showed photos of baby clothing printed with anti -caccinos messages sold by Children’s Health Defense, an organization that the nominated headed until recently.

Kennedy replied that he no longer has supervision of the group.

Although Kennedy’s testimony last week did not win about any Democrat at his side, he managed to win the crucial support of the Republican Senator of Louisiana, Bill Cassidy.

Cassidy, a doctor, had expressed skepticism about Trump’s candidate, but announced that he would support him for after receiving “serious commitments” for Kennedy and the White House. This erases the way for a complete vote of the Senate.

Kennedy is Robert F Kennedy’s son and President John F Kennedy’s nephew. Initially, a race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 floated, but then set up an independent offer before leaving and supporting Trump.

The US political rod. UU. Initially a name was made as an environmental lawyer before resorting to the criticisms of medical care of the United States, including food security and anti -vacuna defense, in recent years.

As Secretary of Health, Kennedy would be in charge of large agencies such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Medicines Administration (FDA), National Health Institutes (NIH) and service centers of Medicare and Medicaid.

Kennedy has suggested that he will fire many of the people who work for these federal agencies, and Trump has said he would give his nominated Leeway to reform food and medical care systems of the United States.

Gabbard also faced opposition to some past controversial positions, including his decision to meet and defend former Syrian President Bashar-Al-Assad in 2017, as well as a previous impulse to obtain a forgiveness for the complainant of the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden .

At one point, Gabbard was pressed by Republican and Democratic senators about whether he would classify Snowden, who moved to Russia to avoid the United States police, as a “traitor.” She refused to respond directly, saying only that he “violated the law.”

He added that he had exposed “illegal and unconstitutional atrocious programs” that led to reforms, but said she would work to block future leaks and illegal revelations.

Several senators also pointed out that Gabbard had defended the invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of the war. Democratic senator Michael Bennet accused Gabbard of accepting that a “totalitarian state” was “justified to roll on the peaceful border of Ukraine.”

Even so, the Republican senators who were initially skeptical of Gabbard finally joined behind her.

On Monday, Senator Susan Collins de Maine said that Gabbard had approached her concerns. Indiana Todd Young Senator announced a day after he would also support Gabbard after ensuring his commitment to “advance our national security.”

Gabbard is a former Hawaii congressman and a veteran military who served with a medical unit in Iraq.

He was previously a member of the Democratic Party and had defended liberal causes such as medical care administered by the Government while serving in Congress. In 2020, he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, and then abandoned and supported Joe Biden.

Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022, criticizing them to be “belliciators” driven by “cowardly Wokedad.” He became Independiente before becoming a Republican in 2024 and supporting Trump’s presidential offer.

If the complete Senate confirms, it would administer a budget of more than $ 70 billion (£ 55 billion) and would supervise 18 intelligence agencies.