• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • Global Health

    RFK Jr. takes a lot of heat during first confirmation hearing

    Here's everything RFK Jr. said on vaccines, abortion, the U.S. CDC, and PEPFAR in his first confirmation hearing.

    By Jenny Lei Ravelo // 30 January 2025

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions in his first confirmation hearing as the nominee for U.S. secretary of health and human services. Democratic senators challenged his views on contentious issues such as vaccines and abortion — where he had to defend himself against his own statements.

    RFK Jr., as he is also known, is a controversial figure, making his confirmation hearing one of the most anticipated. In the lead-up to the hearings, different groups sent out letters opposing his nomination — including his cousin Caroline Kennedy who urged senators to reject his nomination. Others expressed support for him to secure the position.

    Much of the pushback on Kennedy Jr. is due to his claims that fuel conspiracy theories and misinformation — from linking vaccines to autism to casting doubts on the long-established fact that HIV causes AIDS — and fears that his beliefs would trickle down to the department he is nominated to lead.

    This article is free to read - just register or sign in

    Access news, newsletters, events and more.

    Join usSign in
    • Democracy, Human Rights & Governance
    • Global Health
    • Trade & Policy
    • Social/Inclusive Development
    • United States Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • Jenny Lei Ravelo

      Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo

      Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    Global HealthWhy RFK Jr.’s nomination worries Bloomberg Philanthropies health chief

    Why RFK Jr.’s nomination worries Bloomberg Philanthropies health chief

    Devex CheckUpDevex CheckUp: Exempted or not? Trump’s orders spark confusion

    Devex CheckUp: Exempted or not? Trump’s orders spark confusion

    Global HealthI will publicly apologize if science proves me wrong, says RFK Jr.

    I will publicly apologize if science proves me wrong, says RFK Jr.

    Global HealthRobert F. Kennedy Jr. says the US is cutting funding for Gavi

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the US is cutting funding for Gavi

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      Strengthening health systems by measuring what really matters
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement
    We use cookies to help improve your user experience. By using our site, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy.