politics
Health Secretary RFK Jr. Testifies on HHS Budget Cuts and Priorities in House Hearings
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a proposed 12% budget cut during congressional testimony, highlighting reforms while facing criticism over vaccine policies and measles outbreaks. Lawmakers clashed with Kennedy on various issues, including past statements and public health decisions.
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Kennedy Jr. testified before House committees on Thursday and Friday, defending the administration's proposed budget cuts and health priorities. He emphasized efforts to reform dietary guidelines and address waste, fraud, and abuse in the department.
Republicans praised his approach, while Democrats criticized cuts to programs and changes to vaccine messaging. Kennedy faced questions on a more than 12% proposed cut to the HHS budget, stating it was necessary due to federal debt concerns. He highlighted the administration's work on public health reforms under the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
The testimony kicked off a series of seven budget hearings scheduled over the next week.
Over Vaccine Policies and Measles During the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Thursday, a heated exchange occurred over recent measles outbreaks in the U.S. A Democratic lawmaker decried recent measles outbreaks across the U.S. and asked Kennedy to answer for the fact that under his leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pulled back public health messaging supporting vaccination.
Kennedy refused to answer directly, praising the Trump administration's record on preventing measles. The lawmaker also got Kennedy to acknowledge that a child who died of measles last year in West Texas could have potentially been saved with vaccination.
