Senate committee advances Robert F Kennedy’s nomination to lead health and human services department
Joan E Greve
The Senate finance committee has voted to advance Robert F Kennedy’s nomination as the next secretary of health and human services, with Republicans on the committee unanimously backing the cabinet pick.
One Republican on the committee, senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, was considered a potential no vote on Kennedy, but joined his colleagues in favorably reporting the nomination ahead of the floor vote.
The vote to advance fell along party lines, with 14 Republicans supporting the nomination and 13 Democrats opposing it.
Key events
Trump, Xi call no longer expected today – report
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping will not be speaking today after all, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing a US official.
White House trade adviser Pete Navarro had earlier in the day said that the two leaders will speak. The conversation raised the possibility of a similar deal to the one Trump reached with Canada and Mexico’s leaders yesterday, where both agreed to additional border security steps in exchange for a month-long reprieve from 25% tariffs on imports to the United State that otherwise would have begun at midnight.
Republican Senate leader John Thune said the chamber is expected to vote on Pam Bondi’s nomination as attorney general later today.
Bondi was picked for the role after Donald Trump’s initial choice, former congressman Matt Gaetz, dropped out amid reports of sexual misconduct that were later substantiated by a House ethics committee report. Democrats fear that Bondi, a former state attorney general in Florida, will use the justice department to pursue Trump’s enemies. Here’s a look back at her confirmation hearing:
Trump expected to speak to China’s Xi today after outbreak of trade war
Donald Trump is expected to speak with China’s president Xi Jinping today, hours after the two countries levied tariffs on each other.
The Trump administration ordered 10% tariffs on Chinese goods to begin at midnight today, prompting Beijing to immediately announce an anti-trust investigation into US tech giant Google and retaliatory levies on imported American coal, liquified natural gas and petroleum, as well as some vehicles.
“Let’s see what happens with the call today,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said in a live interview with Politico.
Trump had imposed similar levies on Canada and Mexico, but backed off before they went into effect after speaking with each country’s leader on Monday and securing commitments that he said would improve security on their shared borders. Here’s more about the new trade turmoil between the United States and China:
Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr are both former Democrats, and faced the most skepticism of any of Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.
But both appear on course for confirmation, after a Senate committee advanced Kennedy’s nomination this morning, and two Republican holdouts announced their support for Gabbard ahead of a crucial vote this afternoon. It now appears likely that Trump will win confirmation of all of his cabinet picks – here’s a rundown of who he nominated, who has been confirmed, and who is still awaiting their votes in the Senate:
Tulsi Gabbard picks up support from key GOP senator for intelligence director post
Republican senator Todd Young says he will support former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence, greatly increasing the likelihood she will be confirmed.
Young was the last known Republican holdout on advancing Gabbard through the Senate intelligence committee. Democrats have condemned the former congresswoman for her comments supporting Vladimir Putin, and for her meeting with Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad, while Republicans were displeased with her refusal to condemn Edward Snowden at a hearing last week.
On X, Young wrote that Gabbard has alleviated his concerns:
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.
I have done what the Framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security, which is my top priority as a former Marine Corps intelligence officer.
Having now secured these commitments, I will support Tulsi’s nomination and look forward to working with her to protect our national security.
Joan E Greve
Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate finance committee, condemned the potential confirmation of Robert F Kennedy to lead the department of health and human services as a “grave threat to the health of the American people”.
“Mr Kennedy has given us no reason to believe he’ll be anything other than a rubber stamp for plans to gut Medicaid and rip health care away from the American people, and a yes-man if ordered by [Donald Trump] or [Elon Musk] to take an illegal action,” Wyden said.
“I agree that the health care status quo needs substantial changes to better serve patients. So the question in front of us this morning is pretty simple: do Senators want their legacy to include disregarding basic health science and instead of elevating conspiracy theorists?”
Joan E Greve
The chair of the Senate finance committee, Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho, applauded Robert F Kennedy’s appearance last week, when the nominee faced Democrats’ pointed questions about his past comments attacking vaccines and his flip-flopping on abortion access.
“He has spent his career fighting to end America’s chronic illness epidemic and has been a leading advocate for health care transparency, both for patients and for taxpayers,” Crapo said.
“Mr Kennedy has proven his commitment to the role of secretary of the HHS, and I will vote in favor of his nomination. I strongly encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.”
Joan E Greve
Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican of Louisiana, said he decided to support Robert F Kennedy’s nomination after “very intense conversations” with the cabinet pick over the weekend and up until this morning.
“I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel,” Cassidy said in a social media post. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.”
Cassidy’s support likely guarantees that Kennedy will be confirmed as the next secretary of health and human services when his nomination comes up for a final vote on the Senate floor, which is expected to occur in the coming days.
Senate committee advances Robert F Kennedy’s nomination to lead health and human services department
Joan E Greve
The Senate finance committee has voted to advance Robert F Kennedy’s nomination as the next secretary of health and human services, with Republicans on the committee unanimously backing the cabinet pick.
One Republican on the committee, senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, was considered a potential no vote on Kennedy, but joined his colleagues in favorably reporting the nomination ahead of the floor vote.
The vote to advance fell along party lines, with 14 Republicans supporting the nomination and 13 Democrats opposing it.
About 20,000 federal workers accepted Trump buyout offer – report
The number of federal workers who have accepted a deferred resignation offer connected to Elon Musk’s effort to downsize the government at Donald Trump’s behest is about 20,000, Axios reports.
However, a senior administration official expects that figure to rise. “We expect more to come. If you see what’s happening at USAID, it’s just one piece of the puzzle”, the official told the outlet.
That total is about 1%, well below the 5% to 10% reduction that Trump is reportedly targeting, and not far from the federal government’s usual yearly attrition rate of 6%, Axios reports.
The unusual offer of deferred resignations for all federal workers – under which they will continue getting paid until September but don’t have to work and are allowed to find other jobs – has been attacked by unions and many workers as a dangerous assault on the civil services that keeps the government running:
Donald Trump has posted a message of support for Robert F Kennedy Jr ahead of a vote in the Senate finance committee on whether to advance his nomination to lead the health and human services department.
Pointing to an increase in the rate of diagnoses of autism in children, the president wrote on Truth Social:
Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT
The Senate finance committee will convene at 10am to vote on Kennedy’s nomination.
Trump to meet with Netanyahu at White House
Donald Trump will today welcome Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, in the US president’s first meeting with a foreign leader since taking office.
The war in Gaza and the implementation of the ceasefire deal that has largely halted hostilities and seen Israel release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages take on 7 October will likely be top of Trump and Netanyahu’s agenda. Citing a senior administration official, Reuters reports that the leaders will also discuss the possibility of Israel normalizing relations with other countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive at 4pm ET, and later hold a press conference with Trump at 5.10pm, the White House said.
Tulsi Gabbard’s chances of being approved by the Senate intelligence committee received a boost last night, when Republican senator Susan Collins announced she would support advancing her nomination as director of national intelligence.
“After extensive consideration of her nomination, I will support Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence,” said Collins, who represents Maine and is one of the most vulnerable GOP senators up for re-election in 2026.
“As one of the principal authors of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that established this coordinating position, I understand the critical role the DNI plays in the Intelligence Community. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, however, has become far larger than it was designed to be, and Ms Gabbard shares my vision of returning the agency to its intended size. In response to my questions during our discussion in my office and at the open hearing, as well as through her explanation at the closed hearing before the Senate intelligence committee, Ms Gabbard addressed my concerns regarding her views on Edward Snowden. I look forward to working with Ms Gabbard to strengthen our national security.”
Senate committee to vote on Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for intelligence director
The Senate intelligence committee is set to today vote on whether to advance former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence.
The one-time Democrat has faced blowback for statements supportive of Vladimir Putin and visit to Syria’s now-ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, and is expected to pick up support only from Republicans on the panel. The vote will be taken behind closed doors.
The GOP controls the Senate and has a one-seat majority on the committee. If Gabbard’s nomination founders, it may be because of her comments regarding Edward Snowden, as the Guardian’s Robert Tait reported last week:
Donald Trump’s support means a lot in Washington these days, but Robert F Kennedy Jr faces headwinds more significant than others nominated by the president.
A sign of those could be found in the editorial pages of the conservative New York Post this morning, which wrote:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s two-day Senate confirmation hearing should remove all doubt: He’s absolutely unfit to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
His testimony did nothing to change anyone’s mind about that.
Take his refusal to deny a link between vaccines and autism — despite mountains of scientific evidence refuting any such connection.
“Will you reassure mothers — unequivocally and without qualification — that the measles and hepatitis B vaccines do not cause autism?” the would-be HHS boss was asked.
“If you show me data, I will be the first person to assure the American people that they need to take those vaccines,” he responded.
Uh, has he heard of Google?
We’ll see if that sways Republican senators.
Robert F Kennedy faces key Senate vote for health chief nomination
Robert F Kennedy’s candidacy to lead the health and human services department faces a crucial test on at 10am ET, when the Senate finance committee votes on whether to advance his nomination.
Kennedy has a long history of espousing conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine views, and it’s unclear if enough Republicans on the panel will back his nomination, despite the support of Donald Trump.
Even if the committee declines to advance him, the full Senate can still decide to vote to confirm Kennedy. Here’s a look back at how his confirmation hearing went last week:
NBC News is reporting that secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to appoint Pete Marocco to head up USAid, and to review all the work the agency is undertaking.
Marocco is director of foreign assistance at the state department, and has been tied to the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.
NBC News quoted an anonymous USAid staff member who told the news network “He hasn’t been responsible for building anything ever. He’s very good at turning things off and questioning things and making people feel uncomfortable. He’s taken apart a lot of things.”
Marocco held a role at USAid among a number of other positions during Donald Trump’s first term of office.
Norway’s newly appointed finance minister Jens Stoltenberg has said his country will work closely with the European Union if the Trump administration raises tariffs against European trade.
Stoltenberg, who was secretary general of Nato from 2014 to 2024, said that his preference was for dialogue with the US and that his country would do everything it could to avoid tariffs being placed on its trade, Reuters reports.
Norway is not a member of the EU, but it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) which allows Norway to participate in the EU’s single market.