HHS has a budget of over 1.7 trillion and over 80,000 employees.
Its a monumental task, and many believe Kennedy is not up to the task.
His nomination has been opposed by75 Nobel Prize laureates, thousandsof doctors, andmedical groups.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies during his Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearingWin McNamee/Getty Images
On Tuesday, former U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) drilled down on specific claims has made about common vaccinations and deadly diseases.
Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely militarily engineered bioweapon?
I probably did say that, Kennedy responded.
Im not sure, Kennedy replied.
… and lied about others.
The FDA Buried an E. Coli Outbreak.
Kennedy insisted in his own opening remarks that he is not anti-vaccine.
Wyden also noted Kennedys writing about the measles vaccine.
Reality is measles are, in fact, deadly and highly contagious, the senator added.
The outbreak was sparked after two children died after being administered improperly prepared measles vaccinations.
While the deaths were triggered by human error, widespread panic ensued over the safety of the medication.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
In his opening statement, Kennedy proudly declared to the hearing room that his children are vaccinated.
I will ask the NIH and FDA to do that.
At one point, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)called outthe sudden shift in position.
In 2023 you came to New Hampshire and said Im pro-choice.
You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values, Hassan continued.
The question is, do you stand for that value or not?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also made a point to address Kennedys pivot on the issue.
They dont like Medicaid.
They like Medicare, and they like private insurance.
Polling suggests this isnt accurate.
Do we think its working for anybody?
Are the premiums low enough?
Statesare prohibitedfrom imposing premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries in most cases.
A majority of seniors eligible for Medicare are already on the private plans, as Kennedy noted.
Medicare Advantage plans have narrow provider networks that limit the doctors that patients can see.
Altogether, the plans are an enormous financial drain on the Medicare program.
she asked the committee.
