During a heated House Appropriations Committee hearing on May 14, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended significant departmental reforms and addressed concerns over his vaccine stances amid a national measles outbreak. Kennedy emphasized efforts to streamline HHS operations and reduce fraud, while facing bipartisan scrutiny over budget cuts and public health strategies.
Kennedy highlighted the consolidation of multiple overlapping offices within HHS, stating that the department had “nine separate offices of women’s health” and “27 HIV offices,” which he streamlined to improve efficiency without reducing funding. He argued that these changes were necessary to address what he described as “absolute cataclysmic disorganization” within the department.
Addressing concerns about Medicaid, Kennedy asserted that cuts targeted fraud, waste, and abuse, noting that approximately one million individuals were allegedly claiming Medicaid benefits from multiple states illegally. He also mentioned that another million were collecting both Medicaid and Obamacare benefits unlawfully. Kennedy emphasized that the federal government would no longer fund Medicaid for illegal immigrants.
On vaccine policies, Kennedy faced criticism for his past anti-vaccine rhetoric. When questioned about whether he would vaccinate his children today, he responded that he “probably” would but emphasized that people should not take medical advice from him. Kennedy’s ambiguous stance drew concern from lawmakers, especially amid a measles outbreak affecting over 1,000 individuals across 31 states.
Kennedy also discussed his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, which focuses on promoting nutrition and healthier lifestyles. He announced the phasing out of petroleum-based food dyes, with major food companies committing to changes by the end of 2026. Kennedy urged bipartisan cooperation to improve children’s health, stating, “There’s no such thing as Republican children or Democrat children. There’s just kids, and we should all be concerned with them.”
The hearing underscored the contentious nature of Kennedy’s tenure as HHS Secretary, with lawmakers from both parties expressing concerns over departmental cuts and public health policies. Kennedy is scheduled to appear before the Senate Health Committee for further discussions.
