Ask Onix
Congress grills HHS chief on measles outbreak handling
Lawmakers confronted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday over his agency's response to the worst measles surge in decades, as Democrats accused him of undermining childhood immunization programs during a heated House hearing.
Budget cuts and policy overhauls draw fire
Kennedy, appearing before the House Ways & Means Committee, defended the Trump administration's proposal to slash the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by $16 billion-a 12.5% reduction for the upcoming fiscal year. The cuts target staffing, cancer research, and vaccine recommendations, drawing sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle.
California Democrat Mike Thompson presented data showing nearly 4,000 measles cases reported in the U.S. since 2025, linking the outbreak to Kennedy's policy shifts. "Your dangerous conspiracy theories are eroding trust in safe, proven vaccines," Thompson said.
Legal setbacks and shifting stances
Since taking office, Kennedy has overhauled federal vaccine policies, reducing the number of recommended childhood shots and replacing an expert advisory panel with vaccine skeptics. In March, a federal judge invalidated many of these changes, ruling the new panel members were improperly appointed. HHS has signaled plans to appeal but has yet to act.
Kennedy avoided direct discussion of vaccines during the hearing, instead framing his agenda as a fight against "federal policies fueling the chronic disease epidemic." He told lawmakers, "President Trump and I are challenging the status quo to make America healthy again in 15 months."
Measles deaths and mixed messaging
Democratic Representative Linda Sánchez pressed Kennedy on the deaths of two Texas children during last year's measles outbreak. While Kennedy has occasionally endorsed the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, he has also cast doubt on its safety. When Sánchez asked if a child's life might have been saved by vaccination, Kennedy replied, "It's possible, certainly."
Kennedy grew visibly frustrated during the three-hour session, accusing Democrats of stifling debate. "They've talked about science, but science is about debate," he said.
Partisan divide and personal testimonies
Republicans largely praised Kennedy's approach, with Jodey Arrington calling him "a breath of fresh air." However, Utah Republican Blake Moore, whose son is neurodivergent, criticized the administration's autism research efforts. Moore also rebuked Kennedy and Trump for suggesting Tylenol use during pregnancy could cause autism-a claim unsupported by medical consensus.
"My wife was hurt, even for a split-second, thinking she might be responsible," Moore said. "We don't even know if she took Tylenol, but that was a hurtful moment."
Democrat Gwen Moore highlighted Trump's cuts to maternal and child aid programs, including food stamps, questioning how such reductions would improve public health. Kennedy defended the cuts as necessary to address a $39 trillion national deficit.
What's next
HHS has not yet filed an appeal against the March court ruling blocking Kennedy's vaccine policy changes. The agency's next steps remain unclear as measles cases continue to rise.
