RFK Jr. says NIH cuts are 'painful,' defends firing of former CDC director
Summary
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified at a House hearing about President Trump's budget proposal, which includes cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Kennedy defended the firing of the former CDC director and addressed concerns over vaccine messaging and research funding reductions.Key Facts
- The hearing was part of four budget sessions held by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.
- President Trump's 2027 budget proposes cuts to NIH and other health research programs.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged the cuts are painful but cited a large national debt requiring budget reductions.
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher warned that cutting health research could harm U.S. leadership in medicine and national security.
- Kennedy faced criticism for his past vaccine skepticism and its possible link to rising measles cases.
- Two unvaccinated children died from measles last year, the first U.S. deaths from the disease in a decade.
- Kennedy denied claims that the White House told him to change his vaccine-related messaging.
- He defended his decision to fire former CDC director Susan Monarez over disagreements about the childhood vaccination schedule.
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