US Health Secretary Kennedy Faces Congress Over Measles Outbreak, Workforce Cuts

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny in Congress over his vaccine-related statements, workforce cuts in federal health agencies, and handling of a fast-growing measles outbreak. Lawmakers challenged his false claims about vaccine testing, specifically correcting his assertion that only COVID-19 vaccines were tested against a placebo, and criticized his undermining of measles vaccine efforts amid the outbreak. Kennedy defended his department's restructuring under the Trump administration's budget plan, which includes significant cuts to the National Institutes of Health and other key health bodies, promising to identify environmental contributors to autism and tackle chronic diseases. His confirmation had depended partly on assurances to Senator Bill Cassidy that he would maintain vaccine access and cooperate with congressional health committees, but his recent actions and statements have provoked bipartisan concern about weakening vital health infrastructure. The congressional hearings also focused on Kennedy's budget proposals for the 2026 fiscal year, with lawmakers questioning the potential impact of staffing reductions and policy changes on public health. Overall, Kennedy's tenure as Health Secretary has been marked by controversy over vaccine skepticism and significant departmental reforms during a critical public health moment.