Kennedy Defends HHS Decisions in Senate Finance Committee Hearing

The secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, was a witness during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance aiming to examine the health care agenda of the Trump administration, opening up questioning from senators on both sides of the aisle to clarify the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

Secretary of HHS, Robert F Kennedy Jr, attended a Senate hearing regarding the health agenda of the Trump administration | Image credit: MarketingShotz - stock.adobe.com

Republicans Mostly Praise the Work of the Secretary

Republican senators, who had the slight majority in the Senate Finance Committee, led the questioning of Kennedy during the hours-long hearing. Chair of the committee, Sen Mike Crapo (R, Idaho), started the hearing by highlighting the moves that the secretary was able to make in the 8 months since his appointment, focusing on his collaboration with President Donald Trump.

“Under this administration, HHS has placed patients at the center of the health care system, empowering them with the tools and information they need to create a healthier future,” said Crapo. “Now, the department has a renewed focus on tackling the root causes of chronic disease and promoting prevention.”

Eligibility and enrollment verification for Medicaid, providing states with immigration information to keep only legal citizens on Medicaid, and the One Big Beautiful Bill’s investment in rural health through the Rural Health Transformation Program were noted as achievements so far by the HHS and the Trump administration.

Crapo started the questioning by highlighting the criticisms of the One Big Beautiful Bill, claiming that there was criticism put on the bill for hospitals being in trouble “even though the bill hasn’t even been implemented.” Crapo asked Kennedy to explain how the Rural Health Transformation Program will help rural hospitals.

“We’ve had 120 rural hospitals closed over the past 10 years. These institutions are not just delivering health access to rural Americans, but they are economic centers,” said Kennedy. “When they die, the communities collapse, and President Trump promised to do something about that, and he has delivered on that promise.”

Kennedy claimed that 6% of Medicaid funding would be sent to rural hospitals, which would equal approximately $19 billion per year, and the Rural Health Transformation Program would allocate $50 billion over 5 years, which would represent “more than 50% increase in the amount of money that is going to rural communities over the next 5 years,” according to Kennedy. However, this funding would only represent a little more than one-third of the estimated loss of federal funding for Medicaid in rural areas, according to KFF.1

Kennedy affirmed his commitment to end the chronic disease epidemic, which is the reason that he claimed for firing individuals from the CDC, as they “did not do their job” to keep Americans healthy.

Sen John Cornyn (R, Texas) asked Kennedy how he would address the effectiveness and outcomes of health care expenditures, claiming that Democrats believe throwing money at the problem will improve the outcomes alone.

“We are devoting thousands of studies we’re going to devote to identifying the causes, and we’re eliminating them, and we’re already starting,” said Kennedy. “We’re not waiting for everything to come in.”

Kennedy also affirmed his view that the COVID-19 pandemic was politicized: “We were lied to about natural immunity…. We were told again and again the vaccines would prevent transmission. It wasn’t true. They knew it from the start.”

Sen Chuck Grassley (R, Iowa) thanked the HHS for its focus on rural hospitals. Grassley reaffirmed that Kennedy was not interested in regulating agriculture through HHS and instead would run it through the USDA and EPA. Kennedy claimed that he would be protecting all farmers, “including those who want to transition to regenerative agriculture.” Kennedy also committed to speaking with Grassley about his bill to introduce price transparency in commercials for drugs.

However, not all Republicans were complimentary. Sen Bill Cassidy, MD, (R, Louisiana) questioned Kennedy’s views on Operation Warp Speed in relation to his decisions on canceling $500 million in contracts for research surrounding mRNA vaccines. Kennedy said that he thought that Operation Warp Speed was “absolutely” something that Trump deserved a Nobel Prize for, but Cassidy pointed out that Kennedy, as a lawyer, took cases litigating against the mandates of the COVID-19 vaccine. Cassidy also pointed out that many of the members newly appointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have received revenue from being witnesses for plaintiffs suing vaccine makers.

Sen Thom Tillis (R, North Carolina) criticized Kennedy’s firing of the previous CDC director, Susan Monarez, PhD, due to what Kennedy claimed was Monarez being untruthful, stating that he “would suggest in the interview you ask them if they’re truthful, rather than 4 weeks after we took the time of the US Senate to confirm the person just for the future nominee that we’re going to have to consider.”

Tillis also emphasized the estimates for how the One Big Beautiful Bill will affect North Carolina: “I need [official estimates] so we can prepare for the response; $25 billion over 10 years is half of the rural relief fund over 5 years. We just need to have that fact as a matter of policy so that we can go in North Carolina and absorb it.”

Democrats Took Aim at Kennedy for Decisions

Democrats were far less complimentary of Kennedy’s work thus far, focusing primarily on his recent decisions surrounding vaccine mandates, loss of research money for mRNA vaccines, and the firing of the CDC director.

Sen Ron Wyden (D, Oregon) opened the hearing by saying that the US is “in the midst of a health care calamity,” focusing on the firing of ACIP members in favor of vaccine skeptics2 and the firing and resignations of CDC officials. He brought up the funding cuts made to Medicaid as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which has led to the cutting of departments and shuttering of doors in preparation for the funding cuts. Lowering the cost of premiums was also a point of emphasis.

“Democrats are ready to pass an extension that stops a dramatic premium spike…. Instead of finding ways to help American families pay less for health care, Robert Kennedy is focused on his anti-vaccine mission fueled by some kind of complex that the consequences be damned,” said Wyden. Wyden had requested that Kennedy be sworn in but was denied.

Sen Michael Bennet (D, Colorado) asked Kennedy about his appointments to ACIP, stating that Robert Malone, MD, MS, had previously said that mRNA vaccines cause a form of AIDS and can damage the brains of children. Bennet also asked if Kennedy had heard that Retsef Levi, PhD, another new member of ACIP, wrote that mRNA vaccines cause serious harm, especially among young people.

“I wasn’t aware he said it, but I think I agree with it,” Kennedy responded.

When questioned about whether more restrictions regarding vaccine availability would leave parents just as free to make their own decisions regarding vaccines, Kennedy responded that he assumed they would be.

Sen Elizabeth Warren (D, Massachusetts) questioned Kennedy about recent FDA recommendations, quoting Kennedy as saying that anyone who wanted vaccines would be able to get them while he was secretary, which contradicts the recommendation given by the FDA and reduces the availability of the vaccine.

“If you don’t recommend [the vaccines], then the consequence of that in many states is that you can’t walk into a pharmacy and get [a vaccine],” said Warren. “It means insurance companies don’t have to cover the $200 or so cost. As Senator Cassidy said, you are effectively denying people vaccines.”

Kennedy responded by saying that he “never promised that [he] was going to recommend products with which there is no indication.”

Several senators also questioned the reason for the firing of Monarez. Kennedy’s story is that he fired her because, when asked if she was a trustworthy person, Monarez responded, “No.” Kennedy claimed that a report from The Wall Street Journal featured lies from Monarez about the nature of her firing.

“She wrote that I fired her because she refused to sign on in advance for the subcommittee. No, that’s not accurate,” said Kennedy.

Sen Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) noted what he called the hypocrisy of the secretary’s decisions, as Kennedy claimed that established science had been co-opted by big pharma: “You’re telling me, you’re telling the American people that the American Medical Association, representing hundreds of thousands of people, has been co-opted and that they should not trust their doctors…. Everybody is corrupt but you, is that what we’re looking at?”

Several Democrats expressed disapproval surrounding the FDA recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines and clarified Kennedy’s stance on Operation Warp Speed and mRNA vaccines. Several also asked for the resignation of the secretary due to his policies putting children in danger, including Raphael Warnock (D, Georgia), Wyden, and Warren.

Senators will have the opportunity to submit questions to Kennedy by September 11 for all of his answers to be in written record.

References

1. Levinson Z, Neuman T. A closer look at the $50 billion rural health fund in the new reconciliation law. KFF. August 4, 2025. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-the-new-reconciliation-law/

2. Grossi G. RFK Jr sweeps clean CDC vaccine advisory panel, aiming to bolster public confidence. AJMC®. June 9, 2025. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/rfk-jr-sweeps-clean-cdc-vaccine-advisory-panel-aiming-to-bolster-public-confidence