RFK Jr. struggles to answer Medicaid questions in confirmation hearing
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Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Jan. 29. Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's controversial pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers at his first confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Driving the news: Kennedy seemed to struggle when Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) pushed him on what reforms he would propose for Medicaid, a program that provides coverage to some 72 million Americans.
- Kennedy described Medicaid, a state-federal program, as "fully paid for" by the federal government.
- Medicaid is funded by both states and the federal government. The program represents $1 out of every $6 spent on health care in the U.S., per a 2023 report from KFF.
Cassidy — a doctor and the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions — repeatedly prodded Kennedy on Medicaid reform, but the nominee stumbled over key facts about how Medicaid and Medicare work.
- Kennedy said there should be changes to "increase transparency" and" "increase accountability" for Medicaid. When pressed for more details, he said he did not have a"broad proposal for dismantling the program."
The big picture: Kennedy contended in his opening statement that he is not "anti-vaccine" or "anti-industry" but is rather "pro-safety."
- He was interrupted by protesters, who were removed from the hearing, prompting a warning from Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
- Ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) slammed Kennedy over "conflicting stories" about his vaccine views during questioning, pointing to past anti-vaccine comments Kennedy made on podcasts.
When pressed over his prior support for abortion rights, Kennedy said he agrees with Trump that "every abortion is a tragedy."
- He said Trump has not taken a specific stance on the abortion pill mifepristone but said the president has asked him to "study the safety" of the drug.
Kennedy's confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday began at 10am ET.
- It was the first of two hearings for Kennedy. He'll also face the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Thursday.
- Kennedy's confirmation is not guaranteed. Lawmakers have expressed reservations about his qualifications, past vaccine denialism and conspiracy mongering. He can lose only three Republican votes if all Senate Democrats vote against him.
- He's seemingly made efforts to soften some of his anti-vaccine views that have sparked concerns among public health experts, but some Republicans remain publicly noncommittal about his nomination.
State of play: Kennedy's hearing comes a day after his cousin urged lawmakers to reject his nomination, saying he "preys on the desperation of parents of sick children."
- Caroline Kennedy's scathing characterization of her cousin adds to the controversy the Trump ally has courted in the past: from his anti-vaccine views to a slew of bizarre stories involving his treatment of animals.
Zoom out: If confirmed, RFK Jr. could radically reshape HHS and the divisions it encompasses.
- He has said he wants to end "the FDA's war on public health" and halt its "aggressive suppression" of raw milk, hydroxychloroquine, sunshine and other things.
- His so-called MAHA movement blends some more mainstream views, like tighter regulation of food additives, with more conspiracy-driven ideas, Axios' Maya Goldman reports.
Go deeper: RFK's dueling personas take center stage
Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout with information from the hearing.
