The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to become Health and Human Services secretary, with a party-line vote of 14-13. 

Kennedy, survived a critical committee vote that could lead to his confirmation in the full Senate, despite opposition from Democrats who criticized his views on vaccines and health policy. All 14 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of moving his nomination forward, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor whose stance on Kennedy had been closely watched due to his expertise in health matters.

The advancement comes after Kennedy's contentious confirmation hearings where he faced tough questions on his past statements regarding vaccines, among other issues. Critics, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), argued that Kennedy's nomination posed risks due to his "misleading arguments" on vaccines and his perceived lack of understanding of major health programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Proponents of Kennedy's nomination, however, have been vocal on social media, with posts reflecting support for his potential leadership at HHS, highlighting his commitment to health safety rather than being "anti-vaccine or anti-industry."

The nomination now heads to the Senate floor, where Kennedy will need to secure enough votes for confirmation. His advocacy has stirred a significant debate, with some seeing him as a maverick for health policy reform, while others view his nomination as a threat to public health based on his controversial stances.

BOMBSHELL report from DOGE exposes what USAID money printer spent YOUR TAXES on!

Before its abrupt disbandment by Elon Musk, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was known for its extensive and controversial, use of taxpayer funds. According to a recent Daily Mail report, USAID managed appropriations exceeding $40 billion in Fiscal Year 2023, a sum representing less than 1% of the federal budget.

Among the most shocking revelations was USAID's $38 million in grants linked to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, an institution implicated in the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding came under scrutiny, especially after the Trump administration, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, imposed a 90-day freeze on foreign aid expenditures to reassess USAID's budget allocations.

Other expenditures included support for various international health programs and humanitarian aid, which, while part of USAID's mandate, drew criticism for perceived misallocations especially such items as:

-$38M to a South African research facility studying HIV among sex workers and transgenders. 

-$2.5m for electric vehicles in Vietnam 

-$1.5M to promote DEI in Serbia

-$500K to expand atheism in Nepal

-$70K for a DEI musical in Ireland

-$32K for a trans comic book in Peru

-$25K for a transgender opera in Columbia

Other projects included trans care clinics in Vietnam and LGBTQ initiatives globally 

The agency's spending in about 130 countries was aimed at development and assistance, with significant investments in Eurasia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe, particularly in Ukraine for humanitarian efforts.

The Daily Mail report also highlighted that USAID operated with a payroll of 10,235 employees as of 2016, showcasing the scale of its operations before Musk's decision to shut down the agency following a civilian review of federal government efficiency. 

Biden spent $3M on “Palestine Security” with a promise of $680M to come!

In a move that has sparked significant debate, the Biden administration quietly allocated more than $3 million to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) for weapons training, despite the group's involvement in attacks against Israelis, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.

This funding, detailed in a nonpublic notice to Congress, was authorized just weeks before the administration's departure from power. It facilitated "firearms and ammunition" training for the PASF, which has been linked to more than 1,500 terror attacks against Israel in 2023. 

The Palestinian security group, now seeking over $680 million from the U.S. over the next four years, aims to handle security operations in the Gaza Strip following potential Israeli withdrawal. 

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concerns over the funding, highlighting the PASF's "ongoing inability to maintain order in the West Bank" and their ties to terrorism. "Money is fungible," McCaul warned, emphasizing the need for rigorous oversight by Congress and the incoming administration.

The Biden administration's decision to release these funds has reignited discussions about the implications of U.S. aid in regions with complex security and political dynamics. Critics argue that such financial support could inadvertently bolster terrorist activities, given the PASF's history and affiliations.