Protesters Disrupt RFK Jr. Senate Hearing Amid Public Health Cuts

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, faced bipartisan criticism and protests during a Senate hearing over deep staffing cuts, funding freezes, and policy changes that have impacted HIV/AIDS research, vaccine programs, and other health initiatives. Protesters, including Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen, disrupted the hearing by chanting accusations that Kennedy's policies harm people with AIDS and that Congress funds war efforts in Gaza while cutting Medicaid in the U.S. Kennedy defended the Trump administration’s restructuring efforts, asserting they aimed to create a more efficient health department focused on healthier lifestyles. Lawmakers questioned Kennedy’s knowledge of his department's operations and the consequences of his budget cuts, with some expressing concern about his impact on public health programs. Cohen, who was arrested during the protest, has also publicly condemned Israel’s blockade of Gaza, linking U.S. military aid to Medicaid cuts domestically. The hearing underscored deep divisions over Kennedy’s leadership and the direction of U.S. health policy amid ongoing humanitarian and public health crises.