Washington – The Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., went on Wednesday to Capitol Hill, the place he confronted an intense interrogation of the Democratic legislators and the protesters who interrupted one in every of their preliminary statements.
Kennedy testified to the Chamber Assignments Committee within the morning earlier than his look within the afternoon earlier than the Senate Well being, Labor, Labor and Pensions Committee, the place the protesters shouting on AIDS and warfare within the Gaza Strip had been eliminated by the Capitol Police.
The audiences marked Kennedy the primary time earlier than Congress since he swore three months in the past.
Police eliminates protesters as Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is offered to a Senate Committee on the Well being, Training, Work and Pensions in the US Capitol on Wednesday, Could 14, 2025 in Washington. (Picture AP/John McDonnell)
Through the morning session, Kennedy acquired right into a spherical journey with consultant Josh Tougher, D-Calif., On how the 2026 finances proposal of President Donald Trump would have an effect on folks in Medicaid.
“About half of my district is in Medicaid, and the latest finances that’s being mentioned in the home right now would depart 50,000 folks in my neighborhood with out medical insurance coverage,” Tougher mentioned. “Do you not agree with the cuts which might be proposed for Medicaid right now?”
Kennedy mentioned that the one cuts made to Medicaid constituted “waste, fraud and abuse” found by the US Dux service. UU. And requested if Tougher was “taking” democratic factors of dialog.
Kennedy’s feedback had been then created by consultant Andy Harris, R-MD., He’s a health care provider.
“Mr. Secretary, he’s completely proper,” mentioned Harris. “No pregnant lady or single mom who qualifies with Medicaid, Medicare will lose something. This level of dialog is ridiculous.”
Elected officers additionally requested the Secretary of Well being to supply extra particulars about how his division could be reorganized, however mentioned he couldn’t go into particulars, citing a short lived restriction order issued final week.
“We’re beneath an court docket order to not plan about reorganization, and my legal professionals have suggested me to not speak about it,” Kennedy mentioned when requested concerning the cuts reported to the facilities for the management and prevention of illnesses about smoking and well being.
Kennedy mentioned that round 10,000 workers had chosen to take the “fork on the highway” to resign and one other 10,000 are at the moment with an administrative license.
He additionally confirmed that some applications, together with the administration of substance and psychological well being providers, could be transferred to the newly created administration for a wholesome America.
Consultant Madeleine Dean, D-PA., Mentioned that the battle of her personal son with substance abuse, requested why the division was making modifications in Samhsa, after the CDC information revealed on Wednesday confirmed a 27% lower in overdose deaths in 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr.
“It’s altering to a subdivision through which we are able to function it extra effectively,” Kennedy mentioned.
Dean replied: “Mr. Secretary, please, I urge you. Discuss to those households. You recognize these households. You’re these households. Assist us save extra lives. Don’t change it and comply with it.”
In one other trade, consultant Mark Pocan, D-Wisconsin, requested if the Secretary of Well being vaccinated his youngsters for measles, chickenpox and polio if he had younger youngsters right now.
“For measles? Most likely for measles,” Kennedy started, after which continued: “What I might say is that my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.”
The Secretary of Well being cited the European Union, the place chickenpox vaccines aren’t obligatory in all international locations, and didn’t reply if he had chosen inoculate his youngsters in opposition to chickenpox or polyomyelitis.
“I’m actually horrified that it’ll not encourage households to vaccinate their youngsters,” mentioned consultant Rosa Delauro, D-Conn., Citing the dying of two youngsters in the US from measles this yr.
The Democrats, together with Delauro, additionally repeatedly pressed Kennedy about his opinion on the facility of the Congress bag.
“Are you freezing or retaining funds that Congress appropriated in 2025 for NIH investigation that save lives?” She requested.
The Secretary of Well being mentioned he would spend the suitable funds, however added: “The White Home proposal is made very, very massive cuts in NiH.”
Consultant Mike Simpson, a Idaho Republican, a former dentist, interrogated Kennedy about efforts to remove dietary supplements that include fluoride, in addition to actions taken by some states to remove fluoride in public water methods.
“Should you achieve prohibiting fluoride … it’s higher that we put far more cash in dental schooling as a result of we’ll want many extra dentists,” Simpson mentioned.
Kennedy, in response, cited concern for the FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, a couple of potential correlation between publicity to fluoride and low mental coefficients in youngsters. Nevertheless, critics have mentioned that the examine analyzed international locations the place youngsters devour higher quantities of fluoride than in the US