RFK Jr. faces barrage from Democrats in House hearings

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense questioning from Democrats in House hearings Thursday regarding vaccine policy and deep staff cuts at federal health agencies. Kennedy acknowledged that the measles vaccine could have saved the life of a child who died in a Texas outbreak last year, despite defending some controversial actions. Democrats, including Rep. Linda Sánchez, pressed Kennedy on the surge in measles cases, correlating them with his vaccine criticism and policy changes like scrapping the Hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns. Republicans were less confrontational, though Rep. Darin LaHood questioned reports of mismanagement at the Food and Drug Administration. Kennedy stated his department, which fell from 82,000 to 62,000 employees last year, is now at 72,000 and plans to add 12,000 more, and he intends to overhaul the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.