The U.S. Senate has confirmed Donald Trump's nominations of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Both votes were strictly on party lines: all Republicans but one voted in favor; all Democrats, plus Mitch McConnell, voted against.
Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as director of national intelligence, overcoming skepticism | Health News Florida | Jenna McLaughlin, NPR:
February 12, 2025 - "The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to lead the intelligence community as director of national intelligence.... President Trump attended her swearing-in, administered by Attorney General Pam Bondi, in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon....
"Gabbard was confirmed 52-48 after gaining broad support from Republicans during the confirmation process.... Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ... was the sole Republican vote against her confirmation.
"Gabbard, a 43-year-old U.S. Army Reservist who unsuccessfully ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, will be responsible for leading 18 intelligence agencies and managing billions of dollars in budget.
"Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., called Gabbard a 'patriot' who is 'motivated by service"' on the chamber floor on Tuesday. 'The intelligence community needs to refocus on its core mission, collecting intelligence and providing unbiased analysis of that information. That's what Tulsi Gabbard is committed to ensuring,' he said."
RFK Jr sworn in as US Health and Human Services chief | BBC News | Rachel Looker:
February 13, 2025 - "Robert F Kennedy Jr, one of President Donald Trump's most controversial cabinet picks, has been sworn in as the next US Health and Human Services Secretary.... On Thursday, Kennedy was confirmed by a 52-48 vote. No Democrats backed him. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote against Kennedy.... Lawmakers also approved Brooke Rollins as head of the Department of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28.
"Kennedy, who had his swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office, will now oversee agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Kennedy will also be charged with overseeing the US health industry which includes food safety, pharmaceuticals, public health and vaccinations....
"Kennedy is the founder of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, which gained prominence in the US for casting doubt on the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccinations and making the discredited claim that the shots are linked to autism. Kennedy... has denied that he is anti-vaccination, pointing out his own children are immunised. He insisted during his confirmation hearings that he merely supports more stringent studies and safety tests for injections....
"After confirming Kennedy, lawmakers are expected to advance the nomination of Howard Lutnick as the next Secretary of Commerce.... Lawmakers are also expected to take up the nomination of Kash Patel, Trump's controversial choice to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Kelly Loeffler, Trump's pick for Small Business Administrator, after the picks received approval from a key committee on Thursday."
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