Senators grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccines, abortion and Medicaid in his confirmation hearing to lead HHS. RFK Jr. has another hearing Thursday.

Local leaders have positioned the state as a safe haven for abortion, which may draw more scrutiny under the new administration.

Almost all of the pregnant women Dr. Joshua Splinter sees at his rural East Texas practice are on Medicaid. For years, he would treat these patients during pregnancy, deliver their babies and then start the mad dash to squeeze in a follow-up visit before they lost insurance just eight weeks after giving birth.

Over rigorous questioning from senators Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid out his vision to lead the Department Health and Human Services, while backtracking on his past statements in support of abortion and against vaccines.

President Donald Trump's nominee for HHS Secretary, RFK Jr., navigated questions on abortion, vaccines, and social welfare as he hopes to secure Senate support.

Kennedy is seeking to lead a $1.7 trillion agency that will oversee vaccine recommendations as well as food inspections and health insurance for half the country.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled Wednesday to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid or to provide details about how he would work to drive down health care costs.

Vermont Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, along with New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, were among lawmakers Wednesday from both parties grilling Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for health secretary.

In the first of two confirmation hearings, senators on the Finance Committee stuck to party lines when questioning Kennedy.

Over rigorous questioning from senators Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid out his vision to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, while backtracking on his past statements in support of abortion and against vaccines.

The longtime liberal faces deep skepticism over his public health views. “Frankly, you frighten people,” one Democratic senator told his former roommate.