Senate Panels Advance Confirmation Process For Gabbard, RFK Jr.

Senate panels have advanced the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence (DNI) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services, The Hill reported.

Kennedy, a vocal opponent of vaccines and a promoter of conspiracy theories, previously claimed that parasites had eaten part of his brain. I Image: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Facebook

Both votes fell strictly along party lines, paving the way for two of Trump’s most controversial nominees to be confirmed. Gabbard has refused to denounce Edward Snowden, the former defense contractor who leaked classified U.S. intelligence and sought asylum in Russia.

She has also advocated positions aligned with Russian and Syrian interests but is now set to oversee 18 U.S. intelligence agencies.

Kennedy, a vocal opponent of vaccines and a promoter of conspiracy theories, previously claimed that parasites had eaten part of his brain. Despite widespread criticism of his views, he is poised to lead the nation’s health policy.

Meanwhile, federal employees filed multiple lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies.

Two Office of Personnel Management (OPM) employees asked a court to block the agency from using its computer systems and emails to facilitate Trump’s buyout offers for federal workers.

So far, 20,000 of the 2.4 million federal employees have accepted the buyouts—a tiny fraction compared to the sweeping cuts touted by Trump ally Elon Musk.

Sixteen FBI agents also sued the DOJ, arguing that the administration's review of personnel involved in prosecuting the 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants is a pretext for political retaliation.