In a late-night session preceding the confirmation vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as potential Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Senate Democrats voiced strong opposition to the nominee. Kennedy's confirmation vote was scheduled for Thursday morning, but Democrat senators spent the prior evening criticizing former President Trump's choice for several reasons.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer deemed Kennedy "patently unqualified," holding views "clearly harmful to the American public." He argued that Kennedy's background and beliefs were fundamentally at odds with the demands of the HHS position. Schumer emphasized the agency's reliance on science, evidence, and impartiality to safeguard the well-being of over 330 million Americans, overseeing food safety, medication reliability, Medicare benefits, and vaccine approvals. He expressed concern that Kennedy lacked the necessary experience and expertise to manage these critical responsibilities and would instead prioritize corporate interests over the needs of working Americans.

Sen. Peter Welch reiterated concerns from Kennedy's cousin, Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. ambassador, who questioned Kennedy's qualifications and labeled his views on vaccines as "dangerously and willfully misinformed." She highlighted his lack of government, financial, or medical expertise, and expressed apprehension about his potential leadership of agencies like the FDA, NIH, and CDC. Welch echoed these sentiments, criticizing Kennedy for leveraging the Kennedy family name to promote misinformation and distrust in the medical profession.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen also expressed "strong opposition," questioning Kennedy's claim of following evidence, citing his lack of experience and qualifications in the diverse areas covered by HHS, including reproductive health services, contraception access, and programs for children, the elderly, and the disabled. Van Hollen juxtaposed Kennedy's stance on vaccines with former President John F. Kennedy's support for vaccination efforts.

Sen. Chris Murphy characterized Kennedy as one of the least qualified individuals to lead the HHS, citing his propagation of conspiracy theories. Sen. Andy Kim expressed his inability to trust Kennedy with public health, citing his dissemination of misinformation and his controversial claims regarding Lyme disease and the polio vaccine. Kim questioned how he could entrust the health of his constituents to someone he wouldn't trust with his own children's well-being.