RFK Jr. defends his well being agenda and Trump’s proposed price range cuts in Home listening to : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2f%2Fb1%2Fdcfa1aee4f8b90273e93a62b1e07%2Fgettyimages-2271622648.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2f%2Fb1%2Fdcfa1aee4f8b90273e93a62b1e07%2Fgettyimages-2271622648.jpg" class="img" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Capitol Hill on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. " fetchpriority="high"/> Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies throughout a listening to of the Home Committee on Methods and Means on Capitol Hill on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. Heather Diehl/Getty Photographs cover caption

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Heather Diehl/Getty Photographs In his first look on Capitol Hill this 12 months, Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his document in working the Division of Well being and Human Companies.

On Thursday, Kennedy testified earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee, enjoying up his company's accomplishments on a spread of points — from drug worth negotiations to the brand new dietary tips — and did his finest to sidestep criticism of his controversial actions on vaccines.

"We're ending the period of federal insurance policies that fueled the persistent illness epidemic and changing them with insurance policies that put the well being of Individuals first," Kennedy declared in his opening remarks to the committee.

Throughout testimony, Kennedy additionally took questions in regards to the Trump administration's proposal to chop his company's price range within the coming fiscal 12 months by near $16 billion, which might quantity to a 12.5% lower from final 12 months.

Kennedy obtained a principally heat reception from Republicans on the committee who requested him how his company is dealing with fraud on the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies, rural well being care and different problems with curiosity of their districts.

In the meantime, Democrats took the chance to grill Kennedy on the upsurge in vaccine-preventable ailments, corresponding to measles, beneath his watch and the weakening of the childhood vaccine schedule. (Kennedy's efforts to overtake the vaccine schedule is at present blocked by the courts.)

"Children have died as a result of measles is working rampant beneath your watch," mentioned Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democrat from California, as he recalled being a school-aged youngster when polio was nonetheless a risk, "Your harmful conspiracy theories are undermining protected and efficient vaccines."

Final 12 months, the U.S recorded greater than 2,200 measles circumstances and will simply surpass that this 12 months, with greater than 1,700 infections recorded to this point.

In a single notably tense change, Rep. Linda Sánchez, a Democrat from California, pressed Kennedy on the loss of life of an unvaccinated youngster from measles throughout an outbreak in Texas final 12 months. When she requested whether or not the measles vaccine may have saved the kid's life, Kennedy replied: "It is doable – definitely."

Sánchez went on to press Kennedy about his priorities, together with the CDC's determination to finish a public consciousness marketing campaign to advertise the flu vaccine. NPR first reported on that call in February 2025.

"You suspended this pro-vaccine messaging marketing campaign, however one way or the other you are spending taxpayer {dollars} to drink milk, shirtless in a sizzling tub with Child Rock?" Sánchez quipped, citing a current, eyebrow-raising promotional video launched by HHS that depicts the 2 males figuring out.

On the proposed price range, Rep. Gwen Moore, a Democrat from Wisconsin, requested in regards to the sizable proposed cuts to the Particular Supplemental Vitamin Program for Girls, Infants, and Kids, WIC, and Supplemental Vitamin Help Program, SNAP, and the way that conflicted with Kennedy's objectives to scale back charges of persistent illness in youngsters.

Kennedy mentioned "he was not blissful" with the cuts.

Since taking over the job, Kennedy has pushed the thought of making a brand new company — the Administration for a Wholesome America, or AHA — by reorganizing and consolidating the Division of Well being and Human Companies.