A combative Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday, taking aim at Democratic lawmakers while defending proposed budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy, who now serves as HHS Secretary and a close advisor to former President Donald Trump, argued that trimming federal spending is a necessary step toward improving public health—especially for children.
Kennedy’s testimony before the House Appropriations Committee became particularly heated during an exchange with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). DeLauro, a longtime advocate for removing artificial dyes from children’s food, was accused by Kennedy of failing to acknowledge his swift action on the issue.
“Thirty-eight percent of our youth are diabetic or pre-diabetic. That was zero when I was a kid,” Kennedy said. “Congresswoman DeLauro, you say that you’ve worked for 20 years on getting food dye out. Give me credit! I got it out in a hundred days!”
DeLauro, speaking with her microphone muted, replied, “I’ll give you that credit,” to which Kennedy quickly responded, “Alright, so let’s work together and do something that we all believe in, which is to have healthy kids in our country for God’s sake.”
A former Democrat, Kennedy left the party after widespread criticism for his decision to challenge President Joe Biden. Since taking over HHS, he has pushed for a dramatic overhaul of the agency, which he claims has failed the nation’s children.
“If anybody thinks that we did gold standard medicine in this country from these institutions—look at our children! They’re some of the sickest children in the world,” he argued.
Later Wednesday, Kennedy was set to testify again—this time before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. According to ABC News, it marks his first return to Congress since his contentious confirmation hearings in January. The back-to-back hearings underscore Kennedy’s combative approach to reforming HHS, and his willingness to confront allies and opponents alike in pursuit of his public health agenda.
