HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Clashes with Democratic Senators at Capitol Hearing

During a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his tenure amid criticism from Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and others. Senator Maria Cantwell called Kennedy a "charlatan" for his anti-vaccine stance and accused him of undermining public health and vaccine science. Kennedy denied allegations made by former CDC Director Susan Monarez that he urged her to ignore scientific evidence on vaccines, labeling her claims as lies. The debate escalated as Wyden blamed Kennedy for increasing childhood vulnerability to diseases, while Kennedy countered by accusing Wyden of ignoring a 76% rise in childhood chronic diseases during his long time in office. Kennedy highlighted a recent HHS report linking ultra-processed foods to declining child health and infant mortality, blaming policies from previous administrations for these trends. The hearing underscored deep divisions over vaccine policies, public health strategies, and the direction of the HHS under Kennedy's leadership.