((The hill) Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy stood questions about vaccines, canceled medical research and its drastic revision of the Federal Health Authority during the hearings about President Trump Budget requestwhich could lead to even bigger cuts.
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Defends vaccine messages
The Democrats used the hearings to hammer Kennedy on his vaccine messages.
In the middle of the fatal measles outbreak In decades the secretary confused his message About the importance of measles to address both the public and the anti-accy hardliner.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Kennedy pressed novel standards for vaccination disorders and on His comments About the measles shot.
“They told the public that the vaccine would quickly subside. They went to Dr. Phil Show and said that the measles vaccine had never been completely tested out of safety. They said it was fetal debris in the measles vaccine,” said Murphy on Wednesday.
“Everything true!” Called Kennedy. “Should I lie to the public?”
“None of this is true,” replied Murphy.
House Appropriations used to say that member Rosa Delauro (D-Conn.) Was ranked.
“Under her watch, our country now does not contain avoidable vaccine diseases,” she added.
When asked by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) If he was vaccinating his own children today, Kennedy hesitated a little before answering: “Probably”.
Kennedy previously said that he had vaccinated his now adult children, but regrets this decision.
“What I would say is that my opinions on vaccines are irrelevant,” said Kennedy. “I don’t think people should take medical advice from me.”
He did not answer directly whether he would vaccinate his children against polio or chickenpox, and he said he thought vaccination is a personal choice.
Does not know any complete details of the department cuts
Kennedy defended his defiant Overhaul of HHSalso when he seemed fatigue in some details and The effect Bring 10,000 employees in administrative leave.
“We had to act quickly,” said Kennedy in response to questions from Sen. Andy Kim (Dn.J.). “We understood that there would be some mistakes and that we would go back and reverse them … but it was more important to take determined measures quickly.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) asked Kennedy about finance delays and cuts that would threaten the prevention of domestic violence programs.
“My understanding is that the financing of domestic violence has not been reduced,” said Kennedy. “I don’t know why people would even experience delays.”
But Murkowski pointed out that due to the agency “it can be that they have no people who process these things.”
Kennedy evoked some specific questions about the reorganization of HHS, citing a court decision partner. However, he claimed that it was his decision to dismiss subjects and that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) provided information to support the efforts.
“I pushed back certain and canceled certain,” said Kennedy.
On the whole, he denied that many HHS offices were removed, and instead said that some were transferred to the administration for fit America, a novel office that was proposed by the Trump government.
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) Kennedy asked exactly how many HHS employees have been released since January. Kennedy said that 10,000 people had been released, and 10,000 more elected the Trump government’s resignation.
“You are paid for nothing to do,” said Frankel.
“Well … many of them should come in,” replied Kennedy.
“But they come in so that nothing to do,” pressed Frankel back. “You are not allowed to work.”
“No, no. We want you to work,” insisted Kennedy.
Republicans also want to answer
GOP legislator Zero in In the event of movements of the Trump management, which also affects its voters on Wednesday.
Although the Republicans do not directly undermine Kennedy or question huge steps such as agency detachments, they urged various parts of his agenda. Her questions showed the willingness to make priorities of the American Healthy Healthy Health again, especially if the efforts of the department come into conflict with the livelihood of their districts.
In the house, the Republican legislators looked for answers on how novel regulations would affect their districts. They thanked Kennedy for the re -hiring of some released workers and applied for the assurances that programs that are decisive for their voters were restored.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) In questioned how costly the initiative of the Food and Drug Administration Line artificial food dyes Would be in his district for the snack food manufacturer.
“I think these dyes are safe. They have been approved but really tried to find substitute substances – the costs we saw estimated five to ten times to try to fix this,” said Fleischmann and asked that Kennedy was working with him both on the costs and the safety of all novel dyes that were used to replace the replacement of replacement.
Rep. Riley Moore (RW.VA.) Kennedy requested assurance that employees and programs would be at the National Institute of Security and Health (NIOSH) fully restored. Hundreds of Niosh employees, including those in the Morgantown facility in the Moores district, were stored before being Set up again this week From Kennedy.
The Republican of West Virginia also asked for guarantees that the health monitoring of the coal worker and the respiratory division program at NIOSH would be completely reset.
For the first time with Cassidy
Wednesday was also the first time that Kennedy testified to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chairman of the Help Committee public with whether Kennedy should be confirmed or not.
Cassidy ultimately voted for Kennedy afterwards Promise by Kennedy and the Trump government, which is to be informed about controversial decisions from the department.
“I will carefully pay attention to efforts to mistake public fear of vaccines,” said Cassidy at the time.
But while Cassidy Kennedy pressed difficult in his hearing for confirmation, especially about Kennedy’s long -standing false claim that Vaccines cause autismHe took a much softer tone on Wednesday.
(*4*) said Cassidy in his opening declaration. “The Americans need direct security from the administration, from them, Mr. Secretary that their reforms make their lives easier and not more difficult.”
Cassidy did not ask Kennedy directly for vaccines on Wednesday.
At some point he threw in to correct the recording when Kennedy said that no vaccine except the Covid 19 shot had been rated against a placebo.
“The vaccines of redavirus, measles and HPV were and some vaccines are tested against previous versions,” said Cassidy.
