RFK Jr.’s long record of questioning the safety of childhood vaccinations persisted as a flash point for him during a confirmation hearing where a key Republican quickly raised concerns about his views.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy would head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees many of the country’s health agencies, from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing his first Senate confirmation hearing as President Donald Trump's nominee to be the secretary of health and human services.