From fluoride to vaccines to drug ads: Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s testimony to Congress

RFK Jr. and Senator Hassan get in heated exchange

At a Senate hearing over Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.'s leadership of the HHS, Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire got into a heated back and forth over the expertise of a health advocate RFK has worked with.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans on Wednesday during back-to-back congressional hearings over his sweeping restructuring of the nation’s health department.

The hearings focused on Kennedy’s decision to cut staffing by 25%, freeze key research budgets, and promote alternative health priorities under his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. Lawmakers raised alarms about the impact on cancer patients, vaccine access, and dental health, among other concerns.

Why did RFK Jr. cut 20,000 HHS jobs?

The backstory:

Kennedy has defended reducing the department’s workforce from 82,000 to 62,000, calling it a necessary step to streamline operations and eliminate redundancy. 

"There’s so much chaos and disorganization in this department," he told the Senate health committee, arguing that his reforms would improve efficiency and health outcomes.

WATCH: Chaos erupts at RFK congressional hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was providing a statement about the Health and Human Services Department to US Senate Committee Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Wednesday, when protesters interrupted and had to be removed from the congressional hearing.

But lawmakers from both parties said the cuts risk undermining programs central to public health. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray cited a Washington state woman with cancer who is now facing delays at the NIH’s research hospital, which is facing a proposed $20 billion budget cut.

Why is Kennedy targeting fluoride supplements and drug ads?

What they're saying:

In line with Tuesday’s announcement that the FDA will move to phase out ingestible fluoride supplements for children, Kennedy defended his broader skepticism of fluoride’s safety. 

Rep. Mike Simpson, a Republican dentist from Idaho, pushed back, saying Kennedy’s department had mischaracterized fluoride’s function in a press release. "We’re going to need a lot more dentists," Simpson warned.

Kennedy also reiterated his desire to restrict pharmaceutical advertising, echoing past comments that drug ads distort public health priorities.

Is Kennedy changing vaccine policy?

The other side:

Kennedy’s long-standing skepticism of vaccines resurfaced when he refused to recommend that parents follow the CDC’s childhood vaccination schedule, claiming some vaccines lack proper safety testing—a claim repeatedly debunked by public health experts.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr delivers his opening remarks during a House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies budget hearing in Washington, DC on (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Sen. Chris Murphy called Kennedy’s position dangerous amid the largest measles outbreak in 25 years. Even Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy corrected Kennedy’s assertions during the hearing, noting that many vaccines have undergone randomized placebo trials.

How lawmakers are responding

What's next:

While Republicans praised some aspects of Kennedy’s wellness-focused vision, such as his push to remove artificial food dyes from children’s snacks, many expressed concern about evidence gaps and unintended consequences. 

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann warned that Kennedy’s proposals could harm snack producers in his Tennessee district.

Kennedy did confirm he had intervened to preserve funding for Head Start, a move some Democrats welcomed. But when asked for details about the impact of other cuts—such as those to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program—Kennedy struggled to offer specifics.