Summary
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a proposed 12% cut to the Health and Human Services budget during a House hearing. He faced tough questions from Democrats about rolling back vaccine messaging and budget cuts, while Republicans praised his efforts to reform the department and reduce waste.
Key Facts
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the House Ways and Means Committee about the HHS budget.
- He proposed cutting the department’s budget by over 12%.
- Republicans supported Kennedy’s reforms and efforts to fight waste and fraud.
- Democrats criticized him for reducing vaccine promotion, linking it to measles outbreaks.
- Kennedy refused to say if President Trump approved ending CDC’s pro-vaccine messaging.
- Kennedy acknowledged that vaccination could have saved a child who died of measles.
- He denied making statements about "re-parenting" Black children, though recordings show otherwise.
- HHS said Kennedy’s "re-parenting" comment referred to therapy programs for youth facing mental health issues.
