Donald Trump has ordered the expansion of a detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house 30,000 undocumented migrants
The Cuban president has hit out at the plan, calling it an "act of brutality"
Meanwhile, The White House has rescinded a memo pausing federal funding, which had sparked mass confusion when it leaked earlier this week
The memo would have frozen money for an array of services and was temporarily blocked by a judge minutes before it was due to take effect on Tuesday
The rollback is intended to combat any confusion caused by the memo, according to the White House, with President Donald Trump saying the initial freeze was meant to combat "scams"
Earlier, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump's pick for health secretary, faced hours of grilling from US senators
Kennedy, who has been a vocal vaccine sceptic, was asked to explain his past comments on vaccines. He also was asked about his views on abortion and the US food industry
Trump directs opening of Guantanamo Bay detention centre for 30,000 migrants
Still delivering his opening statement, RFK Jr says there are massive problems in the US and promises to scrutinise the chemical additives in the food supply.
He also says he'll work to remove the financial conflicts of interest in US agencies.
"We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to health," he tells the committee.
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
One thing that stands out about Kennedy is his voice. He has a shaky raspiness when he speaks.
It's a rare chronic neurological speech disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia, which is treatable but not curable.
It causes involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal folds, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
RFK says he was diagnosed with it in 1996, when he was aged 42, and up until then he said he had a very strong voice.
In a broadcast two years ago he said he couldn't listen to himself on TV. He also said during another interview last year that he underwent surgery in Japan to try and treat his disorder.
In his own words, as he gives his opening statement, RFK Jr thanks President Trump and his family - and says the Kennedy family has always been involved in public service and he looks forward to continuing that tradition.
"Healthy people have 1,000 dreams, while a sick person has only one", he tells the hearing - claiming that half of Americans are chronically ill.
He says Trump has "genuine care" for the situation and is committed to "restoring the American dream", and making America healthy again (MAHA). "This movement... is one of the most powerful and transcendent I’ve ever seen," he says.
Kennedy also references spending on health - saying that last year the US spent $4.8tn (£3.86tn), not counting the "indirect costs" of missed work.
Back to Democratic Senator Crapo now, who next asks RFK Jr four obligatory questions:
Kennedy says no to the first two and yes to the last two.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Image source, Getty ImagesA protester has just interrupted the meeting, screaming "You lie!"
It was in response to Kennedy saying he's not anti-vaccine or anti-safety.
Capitol Police have carried the woman out of the room.
Next up, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden accuses RFK Jr of having "embraced conspiracy theories, quacks and charlatans" in his time - "particularly over vaccines".
He says RFK Jr cares more about "chasing money and influence" than he does protecting the lives of children and vulnerable people.
He also points to RFK Jr's 2019 trip to Samoa - an island nation - which came months before an outbreak of measles, which ultimately claimed 83 lives. The outbreak was made worse due to low vaccination rates in Samoa.
Kennedy has long maintained that he had "nothing to do" with the people of Samoa resisting vaccines.
Image source, Getty ImagesRFK Jr's confirmation hearing begins with Republican Senator Mike Crapo praising the health secretary nominee's accessibility - saying that he's demonstrated "strong commitment" to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.
Crapo goes on, saying improving Medicare and Medicaid in the current climate "presents challenges" - citing a "rapidly ageing population" and "persistent barriers to access".
If confirmed, RFK Jr will have the opportunity to chart a "new and better course", the senator says.
While senators get to work questioning RFK Jr, here's a reminder of Trump's picks who've already been sworn in following their own hearings:
Secretary of state Marco Rubio, the former Florida Senator, is now the US's top diplomat after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
Defence secretary Peter Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was sworn in by the finest of margins. Vice-President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
CIA director John Ratcliffe, who served for a period as director of national intelligence in Trump's first term.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who was a Wall Street financier before taking on the role.
Transport secretary Sean Duffy, a former congressman and Fox Business host.
Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem, who was serving as governor of South Dakota before taking on her new role - she was confirmed after a 59-34 Senate vote.
Image source, ReutersRubio is considered a foreign policy "hawk" - meaning someone who takes hard-line positions
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
RFK Jr has just entered the hearing room and was met with loud applause and cheers.
Some chanted "Bobby, Bobby!", others said "We love you".
He waved to the crowd as he walked over to take his seat before the committee.
I can see some members of the audience are wearing baseball caps which read "Confirm RFK Jr".
They begin with nominees testifying in front of the relevant Senate committee, followed by questions about their experience, policy views and plans to fulfil their role.
Senators also question outside witnesses who are invited to speak for and against a nominee.
After the hearings, the committee votes on whether to recommend the nominee to the full Senate. They can give a favorable recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation or no recommendation at all.
If it's a favourable recommendation, the nomination is sent to the entire Senate for consideration.
In short, the appointment of what the US Constitution refers to as "principal officers" usually consists of the following:
Watch: Caroline Kennedy urges US Senate against confirming RFK Jr
Caroline Kennedy has strongly criticised her cousin as lacking the relevant experience to become the next US health secretary, and holding "dangerous" views on vaccines.
She released a video statement and wrote a letter to senators yesterday, seeking to persuade them to block his appointment to the role.
Kennedy, who served as the US ambassador to Japan under the Obama administration, and as ambassador to Australia under Joe Biden, said: "He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience. His views on vaccines are dangerous and wilfully misinformed."
She also described RFK Jr as a "predator", claiming he "preys on the desperation of parents of sick children, vaccinating his own kids while building a following, hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs". He is yet to respond to the remarks.
Trump previously said RFK Jr would "make America great and healthy again" by restoring US health agencies to "the traditions of gold standard scientific research".
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
Out of all of President Trump's picks for his cabinet, no-one has provoked opposition like RFK Jr.
Part of Democratic royalty, he dropped out of his own presidential bid last year to endorse Trump - who has picked him to take charge of America' s health care.
Doctors and scientists view the 71-year-old as dangerous because of his wrongful claims that the measles vaccine causes autism, that the polio vaccine is more dangerous than polio, and HIV doesn't cause Aids.
Meanwhile, conservatives don't trust him over his pro-choice stance.
His cousin and former ambassador Caroline Kennedy claimed he was a predator and a hypocrite who privately had his children vaccinated. RFK Jr has yet to respond to this.
He's also faced controversy over his personal life - including extra-marital affairs, his financial conflicts and dumping a dead bear in New York's Central Park.
If all Democrat senators oppose RFK Jr, he can only afford to lose three Republican senators to get the job.
Image source, ReutersRobert F Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr), 71, was a Democrat for most of his life.
A member of the famous Kennedy political dynasty, he is the nephew of former President John F Kennedy - assassinated in 1963 - and the son of former attorney general Robert F Kennedy.
RFK Jr, a former environmental attorney, ran for the White House himself as an independent, before dropping out and backing Donald Trump.
He has set his sights on changing how Americans eat and drink - repeatedly using the president's catchphrase to say he will "make America healthy again".
But he is is considered by many to be a controversial pick, considering his history of making baseless health claims, including that vaccines can cause autism and that Wi-fi technology causes cancer.
More recently, he has said jabs are "not going to be taken away from anybody" should he become US health secretary, and that his aim is to improve the science on vaccine safety, which he believes has "huge deficits".
Ben Hatton
Live reporter
Image source, ReutersRobert F Kennedy Jr - President Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary - faces the first of two Senate confirmation hearings at 10:00 EST (15:00 GMT) today.
The process will see Kennedy, often referred to as RFK Jr, grilled over his qualification for the role by both Republican and Democratic senators - and it's an essential step he has to clear if he is to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
RFK Jr's nomination has proved controversial given some of his long-expressed views contradict scientific evidence, especially on vaccines, and have drawn criticism from public health experts.
But there has also been some popular support for the former Democrat turned Trump-supporter's scrutiny of the use of food additives and the power of big pharma.
There will also be confirmation hearings today for Pam Bondi and Howard Lutnick, respectively Trump's picks for attorney general and commerce secretary. Stick with us for key updates and analysis throughout.