RFK Jr accused of ‘dangerous conspiracy theories’ at heated budget hearing

The Guardian US News
by Melody Schreiber
April 16, 2026
2 min read

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The Bottom Line

Health Secretary RFK Jr faced accusations of 'dangerous conspiracy theories' at a budget hearing.

How This Affects You

RFK Jr's promotion of misinformation on vaccines and public health could impact public trust and health outcomes during outbreaks.

AI Summary

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. faced accusations of ‘dangerous conspiracy theories’ during a contentious budget hearing before the US House ways and means committee on Thursday. Lawmakers grilled Kennedy, a Trump ally, over what they termed ‘terrible decisions’ regarding vaccines, public health, and funding cuts to key programs. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine opponent, has overseen sweeping changes to routine vaccination recommendations and promoted misinformation. This scrutiny comes amid the biggest measles outbreak in decades, highlighting concerns about his public health policies.

What's Being Done

RFK Jr was grilled by lawmakers during a hearing before the US House ways and means committee.

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