Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and environmental activist, endorsed Donald Trump last year and threw his weight behind a campaign to “Make America Healthy Again.” For the past two decades he has been best known for airing skeptical views on vaccines.

The hearing, which began at 10 a.m., will examine the worthiness of RFK Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Watch the RFK Jr. confirmation hearing live on C-SPAN (Optimum channel 80, Spectrum channel 49).

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced aggressive questions about his skepticism of vaccines and other issues during the first of two scheduled Senate confirmation hearings.

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.

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

Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Thursday to face a second Senate panel in as many days as he vies for confirmation to lead a nearly $2 trillion agency.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testified during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing for his pending confirmation Thursday.

Kennedy Jr. faced a plethora of tough questions on vaccines, abortion and public health policy during his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).