An organization established by former Vice President Mike Pence is intensifying its efforts to pressure Republican senators into opposing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president during his first term, has voiced strong opposition to Kennedy due to his past support for abortion rights.
In a letter to senators, Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman Marc Short, who previously served as Pence’s chief of staff, argued that Kennedy’s stance on abortion disqualifies him from leading the HHS. “Regardless of the merits of RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ initiative—or any other qualities a nominee might possess—an HHS Secretary must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to protecting unborn children,” they wrote. “Without such a commitment, they risk bending under the pressure and pushback surrounding these critical, daily decisions.”
The letter continued, “While RFK Jr. has made some overtures to pro-life leaders, suggesting he would be mindful of their concerns at HHS, there is little reason to be confident in his commitment at this time.” This marks the second formal attempt by Pence and his organization to block Kennedy’s confirmation. Shortly after Trump announced Kennedy’s nomination, Pence released a statement urging senators to reject him, citing Kennedy’s history of supporting abortion rights, as reported by *The Hill*.
Kennedy, who initially launched a 2024 presidential campaign as a Democrat, had previously endorsed a ban on abortion after the first trimester but later reversed his position. He has also expressed opposition to banning abortion before fetal viability, which is generally around 24 weeks of pregnancy. On his campaign website, Kennedy stated that he is “a firm supporter of the principles laid out 50 years ago in *Roe v. Wade*” and pledged that “if the courts do not overturn *Dobbs v. Jackson* and restore abortion rights, he will support legislation to accomplish the same.”
Despite these past statements, Republican senators appear largely unfazed and have shown support for Kennedy following meetings with him. Kennedy has sought to reassure GOP lawmakers by emphasizing that his personal views are irrelevant and that he is committed to implementing the anti-abortion policies established during Trump’s first administration.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance has issued a blunt message to Republican senators who are considering voting against Trump’s nominees for key positions, including Kennedy. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance stressed that the president, not individual senators, has the authority to choose his Cabinet. “You don’t get to make these decisions,” Vance said. “President Trump gets to make these decisions, and he already has.”
Vance’s comments came just one day before Senate hearings were set to begin for other controversial nominees, including Kash Patel for FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence (DNI). These nominations, along with Kennedy’s, are seen as some of the most contentious of Trump’s administration and could face significant hurdles in the confirmation process.
Vance expressed confidence that all three nominees would ultimately be confirmed but acknowledged that Republicans would “have to fight for each one.” He praised Senate Republicans for being “freethinking” and “independent” but emphasized that the president’s choices should be respected. “The president has made his selections, and the advice and consent power of the United States Senate should not be used to block people because you have one policy disagreement on one issue,” Vance told Hannity.
He also highlighted the importance of representing the diverse coalition that helped elect Trump. “Donald Trump won an imposing mandate because he brought a different group of people to vote Republican than had ever voted Republican before,” Vance said. “We have to give those parts of the coalition some wins, too. So, yes, we’ve got a lot of traditional Republicans in the administration. We’ve got a lot of traditional national security hawks in the administration. But we’ve also got some new people, some individuals who bring a fresh perspective.”
As the confirmation battles unfold, the debate over Kennedy’s nomination underscores the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over abortion and the broader direction of Trump’s administration.