**Fetterman Open to Confirming Dr. Oz for CMS Role — On One Key Condition**
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., announced he would support confirming his former political rival, Dr. Mehmet Oz, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator if Oz commits to safeguarding the government programs.
"If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude," Fetterman tweeted.
The two have a history of political rivalry, with Fetterman defeating Oz, a Republican, in Pennsylvania's heated 2022 U.S. Senate race. Despite their past, Fetterman emphasized that he harbors no resentment.
"Our politics are obviously different, and we do have a history, but I don’t have any bitterness. I don’t hold anything against him," Fetterman told CNN’s Manu Raju.
The announcement came after President-elect Donald Trump named Dr. Oz as his pick to lead CMS, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
"America is facing a healthcare crisis, and there may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again," Trump said in a statement.
Oz is expected to collaborate closely with HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as they tackle systemic health challenges. Kennedy praised Trump’s decision, calling Oz’s nomination "outstanding" and expressing excitement for their shared mission to reform healthcare.
Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former television personality, expressed his gratitude for the nomination in a statement on social media: "I look forward to serving my country to Make America Healthy Again under the leadership of HHS Secretary @RobertKennedyJr."
The nomination has drawn praise from allies like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who described Oz as an "excellent fit" for the role, citing his medical expertise and public health advocacy.
As the confirmation process unfolds, Fetterman’s stance underscores the importance of bipartisan cooperation in tackling critical healthcare challenges facing the nation.