RFK Jr. Defends Deep Health Budget Cuts Amidst Heated Congressional Hearings
RFK Jr. Faces Tough Questions on HHS Budget Cuts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Health Secretary, found himself in the hot seat during two tense congressional hearings on Wednesday. The focus was President Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026, which includes massive cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy, however, was grilled on a range of issues, including the controversial cuts, his handling of autism research, the recent measles outbreak in West Texas, and the dramatic overhaul of HHS that has led to 20,000 employees being fired or taking buyouts.
Budget Cuts and Congressional Pushback
Kennedy defended the sweeping changes to HHS, acknowledging that the cuts, while “painful,” are necessary to streamline programs and eliminate waste. He stated that Elon Musk’s team at Dogecoin had provided the initial blueprint for these spending reductions, which he and his team then implemented. Kennedy admitted to reversing some cuts on a case-by-case basis, but largely stood by the overall plan to slash billions from the HHS budget.
However, his stance faced strong opposition from lawmakers. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, accused Kennedy and the Trump administration of illegally withholding funds appropriated by Congress. Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, urged Kennedy to work more closely with Congress to ensure that the reforms strike the right balance and benefit the American people.
Vaccines and Public Trust
Vaccines became a point of contention when Sen. Chris Murphy questioned Kennedy’s stance on their safety. Kennedy’s response, comparing advising someone to swim in a lake with alligators, drew criticism from Sen. Cassidy, who corrected the record, stating that many vaccines, including those for rotavirus, measles, and HPV, have been tested against placebos.
Kennedy also faced questions about his own vaccination practices, stating that he would “probably” vaccinate a small child against measles today, but dodging questions about polio and chickenpox vaccines. He emphasized that he doesn’t believe people should rely on him for medical advice.
Other Hot Topics
Beyond the budget and vaccines, Kennedy was also questioned about the World Trade Center health program, where staff had been reinstated after initial cuts, and concerns raised by Republicans from Oklahoma and Maine about reductions in biomedical research funding in their districts.
The hearings highlighted the deep divisions surrounding healthcare policy and the challenges Kennedy faces as he attempts to implement his ambitious reforms.
