RFK Jr. defends proposed 12% health budget cut, measles response in House testimony

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced federal lawmakers on Thursday to defend a proposed 12% cut to his department’s budget and address concerns from Democrats. In his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee, Kennedy highlighted the administration’s efforts to reform dietary guidelines and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the healthcare system.

Republicans on the committee praised Kennedy for his work and asked him to elaborate on recent actions taken by the Department of Health and Human Services. However, Democrats expressed frustration over budget cuts to various programs and criticized Kennedy’s stance on vaccine recommendations, which they believe have led to unnecessary deaths.

During the hearing, Kennedy clashed with Rep. Linda Sanchez over measles outbreaks in the U.S. Sanchez questioned Kennedy on the CDC’s decision to scale back public health messaging supporting vaccination under his leadership. Despite the tension, Kennedy defended the administration’s efforts to prevent measles but acknowledged that vaccination could have potentially saved a child’s life in Texas last year.

Another contentious moment arose when Rep. Terri Sewell confronted Kennedy about remarks he made in 2024 regarding psychiatric drugs and re-parenting Black children. Kennedy vehemently denied making those comments, leading to a heated exchange between the two. A recording of the podcast where the remarks were made clarified that Kennedy was referring to providing support to young people facing mental health challenges.

Throughout the hearing, Kennedy faced criticism from Democrats, with some exchanges becoming heated and confrontational. Despite his background as a Democrat and ties to the Kennedy family, Kennedy found himself at odds with his former party members. He grew defensive and agitated, accusing lawmakers of not allowing him to respond to their questions.

Despite the tense atmosphere, there were moments of levity during the hearing. Rep. Gwen Moore lightened the mood with humor, promising to ask easy questions if Kennedy refrained from yelling. Overall, the hearing showcased the strained relationship between Kennedy and Democratic lawmakers as they clashed over healthcare policies and budget cuts.

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