RFK Jr Confronted Over Vaccine Policies and Public Health Decisions
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr testified before the US House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, facing a barrage of criticism from lawmakers over his handling of vaccination programs, public health funding, and promotion of misinformation. The hearing quickly turned heated as Democrats and Republicans alike challenged Kennedy's decisions and statements.
Vaccine Recommendations and Measles Outbreak Under Scrutiny
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine opponent who has overseen significant changes to routine vaccination recommendations, was grilled about his role in what lawmakers called "terrible decisions" affecting public health. Representative Linda Sánchez, a Democrat from California, pressed Kennedy on whether President Trump approved his decision to end the CDC's pro-vaccine public messaging campaign.
"You've got a lot of misinformation," Kennedy responded, leading to a tense exchange where Sánchez repeatedly asked the same question. The health secretary attempted to redirect the conversation to other global outbreaks, though the current measles outbreak in the United States has circulated domestically and spread to other countries including Mexico.
Representative Mike Thompson, another California Democrat, highlighted Kennedy's lack of medical or public health credentials, stating the secretary was "overruling doctors, scientists and public health experts across our country." Thompson emphasized, "Your dangerous conspiracy theories are undermining safe and effective vaccines," and noted the measles outbreak under the Trump administration has resulted in nearly 2,300 cases with child fatalities.
Misinformation About Hepatitis B Vaccine
During the hearing, Kennedy promoted misinformation about the hepatitis B vaccine, claiming babies are "essentially at zero risk" unless their mother is infected. He stated all mothers are tested when they go to the hospital to have a baby, but data shows approximately 500,000 pregnant patients (about 14%) are never tested during pregnancy for hepatitis B, and the test has a high rate of false negatives.
Kennedy also incorrectly claimed the hepatitis B vaccine hasn't been properly studied and that "we don't know what the risk profile is," despite decades of research demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of the widely distributed shots. Representative Judy Chu, a Democrat from California, called it "incredibly harmful" for the administration to stop universally recommending the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, noting the disease is extremely dangerous for children and can lead to long-term complications.
Controversial Remarks About Black Children Resurface
Previous racist comments Kennedy made about Black children resurfaced during the hearing. Representative Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, questioned Kennedy about remarks he reportedly made on the 19Keys podcast in June 2024, where he suggested Black children are routinely medicated and should be "re-parented" in communities without cellphones or screens.
"Have you ever re-parented – or parented, I should say – a Black child?" Sewell asked. Kennedy responded that he didn't "even know what that phrase means" and doubted he said it. When Sewell suggested Kennedy was advocating for the federal government to take Black children away from their families, Kennedy interrupted and accused the congresswoman of "just making stuff up."
Sewell pushed back forcefully, stating, "I am absolutely not making this up, Mr. Secretary. Even today, Black children are removed from their homes at higher rates than white children, not because of greater harm but because of longstanding bias and built-in institutionalism. For you to suggest that Black families are not capable of raising their own children is deeply offensive, sir." She later entered the transcript of his 2024 remarks into the official record.
Healthcare Funding and Fraud Allegations
Lawmakers also challenged Kennedy on cuts to Medicaid and Medicare programs. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, pointed out that approximately 850 agents and brokers suspected of fraud were reinstated under the Trump administration after being removed. "Your administration was the one that let them all go back to work," Doggett stated.
Kennedy spoke over Doggett several times, calling the story "not credible," and instead focused on alleged fraud by home health aides, including family members who receive payment from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for caring for elderly and disabled individuals. "These are family members getting paid to do things that they used to do as family members for free, and this is rife with fraud," Kennedy claimed, asserting the US is "paying for fraud now as much as for medicine."
Task Force Reforms and Emotional Exchanges
Kennedy revealed plans to reform the US Preventive Services Task Force, which makes recommendations on preventative healthcare such as mammograms and colonoscopies. He criticized the task force as having been "lackadaisical and negligent for 20 years."
The hearing grew particularly emotional when Representative Steven Horsford, a Democrat from Nevada, spoke about his constituents' struggles to access healthcare. "Calm down, congressman," Kennedy told him. Horsford responded, "Don't tell me to calm down. Healthcare is personal to me. If you can't answer basic questions, then maybe come prepared next time." Kennedy countered that Horsford had "started screaming" at him, adding, "People scream when they don't have much to say."
Following this exchange, Representative Rudy Yakym, a Republican from Indiana, quipped, "It's getting hot in here," capturing the increasingly contentious atmosphere of the proceedings.
Republican Concerns About Misinformation
Republicans also expressed concerns about misinformation promulgated by Kennedy and other administration officials. Representative Blake Moore, a Republican from Utah, shared a personal story about how his wife felt responsible for their 10-year-old's autism diagnosis after the Trump administration wrongly suggested Tylenol use in pregnancy causes autism. "That was a hurtful moment for her," Moore said, highlighting the real-world impact of health misinformation.
Throughout the hearing, Kennedy maintained his positions while lawmakers from both parties challenged his decisions, creating one of the most contentious health policy discussions in recent congressional history.
