Health Secretary RFK Jr Faces Protesters, Senate Scrutiny Over Vaccine Claims, Budget Cuts

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a chaotic and contentious hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee regarding the Trump administration’s 2026 budget request. The hearing was disrupted by protesters shouting slogans critical of Kennedy, including accusations related to AIDS and US support for the Israeli military, causing Kennedy to visibly startle and briefly jump from his seat. Kennedy defended significant budget cuts to the department, including reductions to National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding, framing them as necessary measures to eliminate waste, abuse, and fraud. He also faced sharp questioning and criticism from Democratic senators, notably over his promotion of vaccine misinformation and the impact of Medicaid cuts. The disruptions were swiftly handled by Capitol Police, who removed the protesters from the hearing room. Despite the turmoil, Kennedy maintained his position on the budget cuts and sharply engaged with lawmakers during the testimony.