Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defends massive layoffs
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified to a House committee, defending a major layoff for the department.
On June 24, the House of Representatives grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for about three hours at the hearing and sparred with the Department of Health and Human Services Chief on a variety of topics.
Kennedy testified before the House Energy and Commercial Medical Subcommittee on the Department of Health’s 2026 budget. The House of Representatives called for answers on funding for key programs and his stance on vaccine surveillance, addiction recovery, emergency abortion, HIV prevention and dietary guidelines.
Additionally, Kennedy faced pointed questions about plans to integrate several agencies, including the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services and the Office of the Institute for Health and Environmental Health Sciences.
Kennedy also garnered praise from House Republicans for defending the moves needed to attack the country’s chronic disease outbreak and the speed of federal health spending.
There are five important moments from Kennedy’s testimony.
Palone trades for Kennedy and Barb
Rep. Frank Palone Jr. of D-New Jersey cited concerns about Kennedy’s leadership during the opening months of his scientists as the country’s top health authorities.
“It’s this anti-science agenda that gets me the most,” Palone said.
Palone said most scientists and medical experts believe Kennedy’s views on vaccines are “dangerous and not supported by scientific evidence.”
“I really think people will die as a result of your actions and the Republican actions in Congress,” Palone said.
Palone added that despite Kennedy’s pledge to “radical transparency,” he has not answered his questions about cutting workforce and programs. Palone added that Kennedy refused to refuse to release the vaccine, including his decision to include an overhaul of the vaccine advisory board known as the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices (ACIP).
Kennedy said he fired an ACIP member “in conflict with the pharmaceutical industry.”
He later added that when he met Palone 15 years ago, the House members sympathized with those who suffered from vaccine injuries.
“You were a key member of Congress on that issue,” Kennedy said. “Since then, our customers have accepted $2 million from the pharmaceutical company with donations, more than the rest of the committee.”
Kennedy added: “And the enthusiasm for supporting the old ACIP committee appears to be completely caught up in and widespread in the drug dispute, but it appears to be the result of those contributions.”
Kennedy said he retracted his words after other committee members raised concerns about his comments.
AOC aims to provide insurance for RFK, UnitedHealthCare
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of D-New York asked Kennedy if he knew of reports that the Department of Justice is investigating UnitedHealthcare for Medicare Advantage payments.
“Don’t you know that the Trump Department of Justice is investigating America’s biggest insurance company?” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Kennedy is unaware of such investigations, and urged him to point out that the AOC will oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
She then asked why his department approved a more favorable payment next year for Medicare plans managed by private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare.
Louisiana Democrat Carter raises questions about HIV funding cuts
Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana, asked the Center about Kennedy and the reduction in disease control and prevention in HIV research.
Carter cited a report from the American Association of Medical Colleges, which found that research funded by HIV and AIDS national health facilities had been deeply reduced.
Carter said one study focusing on HIV and adolescents has stopped due to funding cuts. Carter added that funding will cut research into the HIV vaccine.
Kennedy retorted that HHS has 27 HIV-focused divisions, whose agents spend $7.5 billion a year.
When Carter said that HIV funding cuts would reduce momentum for life-saving research, Kennedy said, “Show me one life.”
“They are humiliated for suggesting that there is no lost life. People die every day,” replied Carter.
Kennedy: “We need to be smarter.”
Several Democrats criticized him for firing federal employees and cutting research funding, but Kennedy defended the move when necessary. Several House Republicans reflected the need to direct funding in ways that would improve American health.
He said, “We spend $4.5 trillion per year on healthcare — more than 2-3 times more comparable countries per person, but the US is “the most diseased developing country.”
He said the budget maintains funding for Medicare and Medicaid. He did not address the Medicaid cuts proposed in the tax cuts and spending bills of homes waiting for Senate votes, but said HHS’ budget cuts were aimed at bureaucracy.
He said that national health care spending would “will miffify our children with bankruptcy, slavery and disastrous health effects.”
“We won’t solve this problem by throwing more money into it,” Kennedy said.
Ohio State Rep. Ruri praises RFK for its focus on derailing trains
Rep. Michael Rulli of R-Ohio praised Kennedy for focusing on the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The NIH will spend $10 million to fund a five-year study on the long-term health impacts of people living in nearby communities.
During the Biden administration, Ruli said health officials denied the possibility of long-term health effects from train derailment.
Kennedy said he visited East Palestine shortly after the crash and spoke to people who complained of breathing, stomach and eye problems.
“I promised to do everything I could to help them,” Kennedy said.
“We’ll fully disclose what we find and let the tip fall where they can,” Kennedy said.
