Washington – The Secretary of Health and Social Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., returned to Capitol Hill for his third Congress hearing in a week to deal with more stormy questions of the legislators on drastic financing cuts that his department made in the context of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
Tuesday’s hearing in front of a Senate’s credit subcommittee focuses on Trump’s budget demand in 2026 for the Health Agency, and in a few minutes, legislators expressed their concerns about specific programs and funding that would see discounts if the proposed budget passes.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, RW.V., expressed her concerns during her opening remarks on program eliminations like those who have an impact on the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work.
“I support the vision of the president of the size of our government, but as you and I have discussed, I do not think that the elimination of Niosh programs achieves this objective,” said Capito, who directs the subcommittee.
Later, Senator Mike Rounds, RS.D., also expressed his concerns about Niosh endowment cuts and a reduction in mining security. Niosh, which focuses on occupational health and safety, is organizing mining research programs. Earlier this month, the HHS restored 328 employees of Niosh after hundreds of staff members of the Institute received letters of dismissal this spring.
“This is not only a missed opportunity. This is undergoing our ability to achieve the national security objectives linked to the independence of minerals and the resilience of the supply chain,” said Rounds about the Cups related to Niosh.
Kennedy said he wanted to work with the senator on the issue, noting that “we have to protect our minors”.
The Wisconsin senator, Tammy Baldwin, the best democrat in the subcommittee, had a stormy confrontation with Kennedy after having challenged him that funding for questions such as research on rare diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer was linked to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“It’s a fun game that we play,” said Kennedy sarcastically when Baldwin time has exhausted before we can answer the question.
“This is not a match,” said Baldwin, as Kennedy criticized him for not giving him the time to answer his questions.
Later, Kennedy’s question by Senator Patty Murray of Kennedy on programs related to childcare was also transformed into an argument.
After Murray, D-Wash., Asked who made the decision to suspend certain funds related to childcare and development, Kennedy tried to pivot to speak of the Biden administration, to the objection of Murray.
Kennedy then underlined Murray’s mandate for several decades in the Senate, alleging that she “presided over the destruction of the health of the American people”.
“Mr. Secretary, seriously,” said Murray.
Kennedy spoke of Murray as she was trying to redirect him to her questions, the secretary accusing her of not doing her job.
Capito finally rang to ask Kennedy to allow Murray to ask questions.
Murray repeated his question, and Kennedy said that the decision to retain funding “was taken by my department”.
While Kennedy was faced with severe questions from Democrats, several Republicans expressed the approval of his program and his sympathy for the secretary. Senator John Kennedy, R-La., Ended his questions by asking if the secretary understood that “you can do nothing that will make many of my colleagues happy with happy”. Senator Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Also thanked Kennedy for “staying strong” and helping taxpayers.
The White House proposal for the 2026 budget would reduce Discretionary funding of HHS by 26%, hitting offices such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the low -income low -income energy assistance program. Under the proposed budget, the NIH funds would be reduced by almost $ 18 billion compared to the levels of the 2025 fiscal year.
Capito highlighted the impact of NIH’s research in her opening remarks, praising research which she called “extremely important”. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, told Kennedy that Liheap was “absolutely vital for thousands” of people.
“The new administration’s budget aims to eliminate what is really a critical program,” said Collins, who chairs the full committee.
When asked if Kennedy would work with the committee to try to restore the program, Kennedy said: “Absolutely”.
Senator Jerry Moran, R -Kan., Was the first to raise the epidemic of measles, an area where Kennedy – a longtime anti -vaccine defender – faced a meticulous exam.
Kennedy told Moran that “the best way to prevent the propagation of measles was by vaccination”, and praised his response to the epidemic. “We have done a better job to control measles since I entered this agency than in any other country in the world,” he said.
During last week’s hearings in front of room credits and health, education, work and pensions next week, Kennedy refused to answer questions about the safety and efficiency of the main types of vaccines.
“I don’t think people should take medical advice on my part,” said the best health official in the country, after being asked for his position on the measles vaccine.
Kennedy has a history of promoting false affirmations on vaccines, including the measles vaccine during an epidemic. The United States has had more than 1,000 cases of measles reported so far this year, according to NBC News Data.
HHS cuts up its workforce and reorganizes divisions and offices. He announced in a press release in March that he would reduce his workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 full -time employees. The ministry also announced that the number of divisions and offices would be reduced, a decision which, according to her, was intended to “rationalize the functions of the ministry”.