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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny Tuesday during a fiery House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Biden administration’s proposed 2026 health budget.
While Republicans on the committee largely defended Kennedy and praised his efforts to “disrupt the broken status quo,” Democrats sharply criticized proposed budget cuts, vaccine policy changes, and a perceived lack of transparency in his department’s decision-making.
At the center of the controversy was President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill, dubbed the “one big beautiful bill,” which proposes sweeping changes to Medicaid, vaccine programs, and mental health resources. The bill is still being debated in the Senate.
“This isn’t a budget, it’s a death sentence,” said Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), referencing cuts to mental health and substance abuse programs.
Democrats Slam Medicaid, HIV, and Vaccine Policy Overhauls
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) warned that without congressional action to replace lost funding, the proposed cuts could lead to hospital closures and deaths among vulnerable populations.
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) grilled Kennedy over the Trump administration’s termination of HIV vaccine research, calling it a scientifically baseless move. He entered into the record studies debunking Kennedy’s claims and accused the secretary of misleading Congress.
Kennedy defended the department’s direction, saying, “We’re doing evidence-based, gold-standard science to help the most vulnerable Americans.”
But Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) accused Kennedy of eliminating public input on vaccine decisions.
“You say you want transparency, but there’s been no public process for any of this,” Pallone said, referencing Kennedy’s replacement of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Kennedy claimed the committee was disbanded due to conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry, prompting Pallone to accuse him of violating public trust. After accusing Pallone of accepting money from pharma, Kennedy retracted the statement under committee pressure.
COVID-19, Pregnancy, and Vaccine Safety Debates
Kennedy reiterated his controversial position to remove CDC recommendations for pregnant women and children to get the COVID-19 vaccine, citing “adverse events” without offering concrete sources.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), a former pediatrician, rebutted those claims.
“You’re now on the record. You lied to Sen. Cassidy. You’ve lied to the American people. I lay all responsibility for every death from a vaccine-preventable illness at your feet,” Schrier declared.
Schrier also accused Kennedy of misleading Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) during his confirmation, claiming he would preserve the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel — which Kennedy later fired.
Kennedy Defends Budget Cuts and Pushes Seed Oil, Wearables
Kennedy said his cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research were aimed at eliminating “thousands of studies doing nothing to improve American health.”
Instead, he suggested NIH should focus on topics such as:
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Seed oils
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Corn syrup
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Food dyes
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Microplastics
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Pesticides
Asked about a widely reported initiative causing backlogged payments to doctors, “Defend the Spend,” Kennedy admitted ignorance: “About what?”
Republicans Rally Around RFK Jr.
While Democrats raised concerns, Republicans praised Kennedy’s push for “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA)and policy innovations, including:
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Expanding FDA priority review vouchers
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Promoting non-opioid pain relief drugs
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Supporting psychedelics for treatment
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Launching a major campaign promoting wearable glucose monitors
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Rewriting U.S. dietary guidelines by August
“Galileo got an ‘F’ in his day too,” remarked Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), defending Kennedy’s controversial science stances.
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) praised Kennedy’s “vision,” while Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), a dermatologist, commended his “commitment to unlocking American science.”
What’s Next for HHS?
Kennedy said the department is preparing to launch one of the biggest advertising campaigns in its history to promote glucose monitors and promised to speed access to “gold-standard” rare disease treatments.
Despite the partisan split, Kennedy held firm that his goal is to “modernize and make efficient a health system that has failed too many Americans.”
But as vaccine policy, public health funding, and transparency remain flashpoints, Tuesday’s hearing showcased a widening gulf over the future direction of American health care under Kennedy’s leadership.
