Kennedy faces sharp rebuke from House Democrats over vaccine policy

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr came under heavy scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers during a heated budget hearing on Capitol Hill, as concerns mounted over his handling of vaccine policy, sweeping agency cuts, and what some members described as a disregard for transparency and scientific integrity.

Appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, Mr Kennedy was grilled on the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal 2026 health budget. The session quickly turned into a political reckoning, with lawmakers pressing him on what they characterized as misleading testimony during his Senate confirmation, controversial reversals in public health guidance, and a series of administrative decisions that have drawn backlash from medical and scientific communities.

One of the most contentious moments came when Mr Kennedy was forced to retract a claim that Representative Frank Pallone’s support for vaccine policy was linked to pharmaceutical contributions. Mr Kennedy’s remark, which accused the New Jersey Democrat of receiving $2 million from drugmakers, prompted a formal objection and a warning from the Republican chair.