The hearings were packed to capacity with protesters and fans, while the spillover crowd hung out in hallways and overflow rooms.

Before he was tapped by President Donald Trump to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Covid shots “a crime against humanity.” His Children’s Health Defense organization linked vaccines to autism and said they’d never properly been tested.

What to know from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s hearings before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Thursday.

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If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

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

In one of the most tense exchanges in a heated confirmation hearing, Senator Angela Alsobrooks called out past comments RFK Jr. made suggesting a different vaccine schedule for Black people.

Robert F. Kennedy, President Trump’s nominee for health secretary, vigorously defended his views on vaccines, and a key senator still has clear doubts.

President Trump added to the turmoil, saying with no evidence that the crash could have been caused by diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy said he was "struggling" with Kennedy's nomination for health and human services secretary after repeatedly challenging his views on vaccines.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and key G.O.P. vote, joined Democrats in aggressively questioning Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for health secretary. He did not say how he would vote.

In a make-or-break hearing, Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went before a second committee and it revealed Republican doubts about him. Lisa Desjardins reports on where lawmakers' support stands.