WATCH LIVE: Health Secretary RFK Jr. testifies about HHS agenda, proposed budget cuts in House hearing

PBS NewsHour
by Ali Swenson, Associated Press
April 17, 2026
4 views
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is testifying before Congress about HHS's agenda and budget cuts.

How This Affects You

Proposed budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services could impact federal health programs and services available to you.

AI Summary

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is testifying before the House Education and Workforce committee regarding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agenda and proposed budget cuts. This appearance marks the beginning of a series of congressional budget hearings he will attend over the coming week. His testimony provides Congress with insight into the Trump administration's priorities and financial plans for HHS. The hearings are crucial for lawmakers to scrutinize and potentially influence the allocation of federal funds for health programs.

What's Being Done

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is testifying in a House hearing and will attend a series of congressional budget hearings.

Source Coverage Map

11 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

26% coverage
Did Not Cover (32)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP US News96AP Top News96ProPublica95+27 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

WATCH LIVE: RFK Jr. testifies on Trump's HHS budget request before Senate committees
Politics

WATCH LIVE: RFK Jr. testifies on Trump's HHS budget request before Senate committees

Sen. Bill Cassidy's roles as a lawmaker, a doctor and a political candidate will collide on Wednesday as he questions Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in two high-stakes Senate hearings.

PBS NewsHourApr 22
Watch live: Lutnick testifies before Senate on Commerce Department budget
Politics

Watch live: Lutnick testifies before Senate on Commerce Department budget

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will testify before a Senate Appropriations Committee panel on Wednesday morning about President Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request and likely fallout from the Supreme Court’s blow to his tariff agenda. The high court in February struck down the bulk of Trump’s emergency import taxes, which the president argued would boost investment…

The HillApr 22
RFK Jr’s podcast has glimmers of his old show – will he address health issues differently?
Politics

RFK Jr’s podcast has glimmers of his old show – will he address health issues differently?

<p>Secretary Kennedy Podcast so far seems designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message</p><p>Robert F Kennedy Jr’s new Secretary Kennedy Podcast is a show that, so far, appears designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message.</p><p>Though, based on the trailer and episode one, which dropped last week, one might expect the Secretary Kennedy Podcast to be quite similar to the health secretary’s former show, The RFK Jr Podcast. In the trailer that dropped ahead of his new podcast’s release, Kennedy says: “Children are sicker, chronic disease is exploding and the answers we’ve been given aren’t working” – talking points that were common on his old series. He even adds: “Many of us have come to the conclusion that the government actually lies to us,” a statement that might have served his former podcast better, given that Kennedy is now a senior figure in the government.</p> <a href="https:...

The Guardian US NewsApr 20
Watch: Congressman spars with RFK Jr. about Trump's mental fitness
Politics

Watch: Congressman spars with RFK Jr. about Trump's mental fitness

Democratic Rep. Mark Takano of California sparred with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about President Trump's mental fitness. Takano asked Kennedy whether he would insist that the president undergo an assessment of his mental fitness and emotional stability, to which the secretary responded, "Absolutely not."

CBS NewsApr 17
Federal Judge Calls RFK Jr. an “Unsafe” Leader in Order Protecting Trans Youth Health Care
Civil Rights

Federal Judge Calls RFK Jr. an “Unsafe” Leader in Order Protecting Trans Youth Health Care

In a scathing ruling describing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an “unserious” and “unsafe” leader, a federal judge in Oregon issued an order that will protect doctors and hospitals, and the transgender kids they treat, from the federal crackdown on gender-affirming care. On Saturday, US District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai […]

Mother JonesApr 21
RFK Jr. to Reform Health Panel That Determines Which Screenings Insurers Cover
Health

RFK Jr. to Reform Health Panel That Determines Which Screenings Insurers Cover

The health secretary said he would reform the panel, which determines whether insurance will cover preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies.

New York TimesApr 16
Read Next
Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian
Politics

Trump labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid misconduct investigation - The Guardian

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources