May 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Tammy Baldwin slams RFK Jr.'s measles vaccination testimony

Stephen Neukam

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) speaks at the inaugural Future of Health Summit on May 14 in Washington, D.C. — Sen. Tammy Baldwin speaks at the inaugural Future of Health Summit on May 14 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Gabriel Espinal for Axios

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) slammed testimony from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Congress, saying on Wednesday it is "deeply troubling" he was confirmed for the position.

Why it matters: Kennedy, a former Democrat, has become one of the party's most scrutinized figures in the Trump administration.

Kennedy testified to a House panel on Wednesday that his opinions on vaccines "are irrelevant." He continued, "I don't think people should be taking ... medical advice from me."
Kennedy said at the hearing he would "probably" vaccinate his children for measles if he had to decide today.
Baldwin told Axios' Peter Sullivan at Axios' inaugural Future of Health Summit on Wednesday that Kennedy "heads a department that is the biggest public health agency in the world."

The big picture: Democrats continue to blare the alarm on Kennedy's past skepticism of vaccines, with Baldwin saying he has "spent a career creating conspiracy theories around this."

"I think it's deeply troubling that the Senate confirmed a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist to be the secretary of Health and Human Services," Baldwin said.

Go deeper: Dems blitz RFK Jr. on vaccine record, HHS cuts

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Tammy Baldwin slams RFK Jr.'s measles vaccination testimony

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