Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cleared his first hurdle to become the nation’s top health official as the Senate finance committee voted to advance his nomination for a floor vote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and environmental activist, endorsed Donald Trump last year and threw his weight behind a campaign to “Make America Healthy Again.” For the past two decades he has been best known for airing skeptical views on vaccines.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services testifies during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation on Capitol Hill,

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said vaccines are not safe. His support for abortion access has made conservatives uncomfortable.

Vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr is on track to be confirmed as the top US health official after a key Senate committee voted along party lines to approve his nomination. The Senate finance committee on Tuesday voted 14 to 13 in favour of Kennedy’s confirmation to run the Department of Health and Human Services,

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s path to become the next secretary of health and human services improved considerably today, as his nomination cleared a key Senate committee and he won the support of a Republican holdout on another.