Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is about to testify earlier than two congressional committees on Wednesday to debate, amongst many matters, the Trump administration’s proposed budget and its impression on HHS.
Kennedy will seem earlier than the Home Appropriations Committee Wednesday morning and the Senate Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee within the afternoon.
Final month, the HELP Committee called Kennedy to testify on the restructuring of the division.
In April, HHS started laying off about 10,000 workers and consolidating 28 institutes and facilities into 15 new divisions.
Together with the roughly 10,000 individuals who have left over the previous couple of months by means of early retirement or deferred resignation applications, the general workers at HHS is predicted to fall from 82,000 to round 62,000 — or a few quarter of its workforce.
In a video statement posted on X previous to the layoffs, Kennedy mentioned that he plans to deliver to the company a “clear sense of mission to radically enhance the well being of People and to enhance company morale.”
Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks, throughout a press convention within the Roosevelt Room on the White Home, Could 12, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Kennedy has defended the cuts as essential to weed out wasteful spending at considered one of America’s largest departments, however he has drawn criticism for shedding people who find themselves accountable for regulating tobacco utilization, monitoring lead publicity in youngsters and diagnosing black lung illness in miners.
The secretary himself has appeared to not learn about among the cuts, telling CBS Information final month he was “not acquainted” with a number of cuts cited by the outlet.
Wednesday will mark the primary time Kennedy has testified earlier than Congress since his affirmation hearings in late January, and he could also be compelled to confront statements he made that critics say are proof of guarantees damaged.
Kennedy mentioned a number of occasions throughout his listening to in January that he helps vaccines, though he refused to unequivocally say that vaccines do not trigger autism, regardless of quite a few present research already displaying there isn’t any hyperlink.
“I assist the measles vaccine. I assist the polio vaccine. I’ll do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it tough or discourages individuals from taking both of these vaccines,” Kennedy mentioned.
Nonetheless, in March, the HHS confirmed that the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention will study whether vaccines cause autism.
Moreover, within the wake of a number of ongoing measles outbreaks throughout the U.S. and over 1,000 instances up to now this yr, Kennedy has shared contradicting views about vaccines.
In a put up on X on April 6, Kennedy mentioned that the “only strategy to forestall the unfold of measles” is to obtain the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Nonetheless, in a put up later that night, he mentioned greater than 300 youngsters have been handled with an antibiotic and a steroid, neither of that are acknowledged therapies or cures for measles.
Kennedy’s embrace of anti-vaccine concepts almost put his affirmation in jeopardy, as he confronted resistance from Louisiana Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a doctor who heads the HELP committee. Cassidy expressed considerations about Kennedy’s views on vaccines earlier than finally voting to move him through the confirmation process in February.
Sen. Invoice Cassidy asks secretary of Well being and Human Providers (HHS) nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questions throughout a Senate Finance Committee affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill, Jan. 29, 2025.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Publish through Getty Photographs
Cassidy mentioned, on the time, that Kennedy assured him he wouldn’t alter vaccine coverage with out “ironclad” scientific proof. The senator added that Kennedy and Trump officers promised him an “unprecedentedly shut collaborate working relationship” with the secretary.
At present, Cassidy doesn’t consider Kennedy has violated the commitments he made to him, an individual aware of the senator’s pondering informed ABC Information.
The boys communicate a number of occasions per week and have maintained a productive relationship, three individuals with data of their dynamic mentioned.
An HHS spokesperson mentioned Kennedy “maintains knowledgeable and respectful relationship with Senator Cassidy, grounded in a shared dedication to public well being and evidence-based policymaking.”
Cassidy plans to inform Kennedy on Wednesday that the secretary can “set the report straight” about how HHS will “preserve its crucial duties and implement change necessary to People’ well being,” in response to an excerpt of Cassidy’s remarks, which have been obtained by ABC Information.
ABC Information’ Cheyenne Haslett and Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.
