Trump tapped RFK Jr. for director of the agency, which oversees drug, vaccine and food safety as well as Medicare and Medicaid.

Maine's Republican senator cited Patel's 'aggressive political activity' as one reason for her opposition and Democrats warned that Patel had vowed to seek revenge against anti-Trump conspirators.

Susan Collins could leverage her position to push back against NIH cuts she opposes. At least for now, the Republican senator is choosing not to.

One national political forecaster says the 2026 race will likely be a toss-up, but for now, Maine's senior senator looks to have an initial advantage because of her historical crossover appeal, which will be tested in Trump's second term.

Phillip Rench, a 37-year-old former engineer for SpaceX, has filed paperwork to run as an independent against Maine's senior senator.

Surely, moderate Republicans like Sen. Susan Collins—who is up for reelection next year in the reliably blue state of Maine—would consider Kennedy and Gabbard too treacherous to swallow? Nope. Collins voted to confirm both nominees,

Senator Susan Collins of Maine raised concerns about how DOGE-driven firings of federal employees may impact her home state.

The Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel to be the next FBI director. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans to vote against the longtime Trump loyalist.

Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said overseas military threats require the defense workforce to grow, not shrink.

Kennedy Jr. cleared a procedural vote in the Senate Wednesday that fell along party lines, teeing up the confirmation. Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins announced earlier this week she would vote to confirm RFK Jr.

Kash Patel has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as director of the FBI on Thursday in a vote of 51-49. The vote to confirm Patel was mostly along party lines, with all 47 Democrats voting against it and Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine also voting no.

The only Republicans to break ranks and vote against Patel were Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Maine's Susan Collins. Every Democrat voted against the confirmation.