Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fiercely defended his agency reforms during a heated House Appropriations Committee hearing, clashing with Democratic lawmakers over his consolidation of health offices and successful removal of petroleum-based food dyes from American products.
Quick Takes
- Kennedy touted removing petroleum-based food dyes within 100 days, claiming to accomplish what Rep. DeLauro had worked on for 20 years.
- He denied accusations of harming women’s and minority health initiatives, maintaining that office consolidations preserved funding while reducing redundancy.
- Democrats criticized Kennedy’s proposed Medicaid funding cuts, which he defended as targeting only fraud, waste, and abuse.
- Kennedy maintained that no working scientists were fired amid agency restructuring, despite contradicting reports from former staff.
- He emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation on children’s health issues, stating “there are no partisan distinctions among children.”
Kennedy Defends Sweeping HHS Reorganization
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense questioning from Democratic lawmakers during a House Appropriations Committee hearing about his department’s reorganization efforts. Kennedy defended the consolidation of multiple offices within HHS as necessary to reduce redundancy while maintaining funding for critical programs. The Secretary’s approach has drawn criticism from Democrats who fear these changes could undermine women’s and minority health initiatives, while supporters view the reforms as essential to eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and improving efficiency in an agency Kennedy described as disorganized when he took office.
When challenged about reports of layoffs and disruption at health agencies, Kennedy dismissed concerns as unfounded. “We did not fire any working scientists,” Kennedy insisted during the hearing, characterizing negative reports about his reorganization as a “canard.” This statement contrasts with accounts from former agency staff who claim that funding cuts have halted scientific research and clinical trials across the country. Kennedy maintained that the reorganization, while “painful” in some aspects, was necessary to improve the department’s operations and effectiveness.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen is removed by law enforcement for interrupting RFK Jr. hearing.
I hope their sales tank. I'm sick of that left wing ice cream. I've been boycotting them for years! pic.twitter.com/OVCXafTnFx
— PAMELA HENSLEY🇺🇸 (@PamelaHensley22) May 14, 2025
Heated Exchange Over Food Dyes and Children’s Nutrition
One of the most contentious moments came during an exchange with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) over efforts to remove synthetic food dyes from American products. Kennedy forcefully defended his administration’s work on this issue, highlighting an agreement with food manufacturers to phase out synthetic dyes by 2026. Research suggests these dyes, particularly Red 40, may contribute to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children, making their removal a public health priority. The exchange grew particularly heated when Kennedy claimed to have accomplished in months what Democrats had attempted for years. “Congresswoman DeLauro, you say you’ve worked for 20 years on getting food dye out. Give me credit! I got it out in 100 days,” declared RFK Jr.
Kennedy also expressed significant concern about the current state of nutrition in programs like Head Start, describing meals served to low-income children as unhealthy and laden with sugar and chemicals. He made the striking claim that American children are among the sickest in the world due to poor nutrition. These comments came amid discussions of Trump administration budget proposals that could potentially eliminate Head Start, a program serving low-income families, although Kennedy focused his testimony on improving rather than eliminating such programs.
Confronting Critics Over Medicaid Funding
When questioned by Rep. Josh Harder about proposed cuts to Medicaid funding, Kennedy pushed back forcefully against Democratic characterizations of his budget priorities. Kennedy defended the proposed reductions as specifically targeting fraud and wasteful spending rather than core services. This approach aligns with the administration’s broader strategy of finding efficiency improvements without compromising essential health initiatives. The exchange highlighted fundamental differences in how both parties view government spending on healthcare programs.
Throughout the hearing, Kennedy emphasized his desire to transcend partisan politics when addressing public health issues, particularly those affecting children. He repeatedly stated that there should be no partisan distinctions when it comes to children’s health and called for cooperation across party lines. Despite this appeal for bipartisanship, the hearing remained contentious, with Democrats challenging Kennedy’s vaccine stance and his approaches to reorganizing key health offices. Kennedy defended his positions as evidence-based and focused on transparency regarding potential health risks.
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In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out
Sparks Fly At Hearing As RFK Jr. Takes On Dems For Playing Politics With Health
