RFK Jr defends HHS cuts, measles stance in Congress hearings
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr at the HELP Committee hearing.
US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has made his first testimonies in front of Congress since he was appointed to the role, and was quizzed on cuts to HHS agencies as well as his stance on measles vaccination.
Kennedy proved evasive during questioning on whether he would vaccinate children against specific diseases, including measles, which has claimed three lives in the US this year, saying: "I don't think people should be taking…medical advice from me."
He refrained from saying he would recommend measles vaccination for children, however, saying he would simply lay out the pros and cons and let parents decide, which led Sen Chris Murphy (D-Conn) to accuse him of misleading the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee during his confirmation hearing.
"In the hearing, you told us 'I will not work to impound, divert, or otherwise reduce any funding appropriated by Congress for the purpose of vaccination programs.' That is not the truth," said Murphy.
"You have cancelled $12 billion in public health grants to states. Whether you know this or not, that funding is used by the states in part to be able to administer and dispense information about vaccines."
Kennedy – who has been a highly visible vaccine sceptic in recent years – would not overtly recommend vaccination when challenged to do so, repeating the assertion that he would present the evidence and let people decide for themselves.
Murphy responded: "I think that's really dangerous for the American public and for families. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is no longer recommending the measles vaccines."
On President Donald Trump's 'skinny budget' request for fiscal 2026 – which is seeking massive cuts to the budgets of HHS agencies, including the NIH and CDC – Kennedy defended the measures but said he wasn't able to comment other than in general terms due to ongoing litigation.
Earlier this month, 19 states sued the administration over HHS cuts, claiming that they were undermining critical life-saving programmes and passing the costs onto state-level government organisations.
Around 10,000 jobs have already been cut from the department, with a target headcount reduction of 20,000, with 28 agencies now reduced down to 15, while $11 billion has been axed from public health funding.
"We intend to do more, a lot more with less," Kennedy said at a hearing in front of the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for coming up with the HHS budget.
He told lawmakers that the administration "committed to delivering more efficient, responsive and effective services to the over 100 million Americans who rely on Medicare, Medicaid and other programmes."
