Cassidy with Kennedy at a Jan. 30 Senate HELP confirmation hearing. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders are asking HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify about his department's reorganization at an April 10 hearing, according to a letter to Kennedy that the committee sent and released Tuesday.
Why it matters: Cassidy is for the first time holding Kennedy to a commitment he made during his confirmation process to quarterly brief the committee when asked by the chair.
- This request was sent on the same day when HHS laid off thousands of employees in a purge touching virtually every part of the federal health bureaucracy.
What they're saying: "The news coverage on the HHS reorg is being set by anonymous sources and opponents are setting the perceptions," Cassidy said in a statement. "In the confirmation process, RFK committed to coming before the committee on a quarterly basis."
- "This will be a good opportunity for him to set the record straight and speak to the goals, structure and benefits of the proposed reorganization."
What we're watching: This was only an invitation, and Kennedy still has to agree to testify. HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
- While April 10 is the target for the hearing, it's possible that date could shift based on Kennedy's schedule, if he does agree to come before the committee.
