Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Mario Tama and Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Republican and Democratic staff on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are due to meet with HHS staff Friday to air concerns over the sweeping reorganization and job cuts at the department.
Why it matters: E&C Democrats have been demanding a meeting with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but the meeting will be the first chance to convey grievances directly to agency staff over DOGE-directed cuts and upheaval at agencies including NIH and the FDA.
Zoom in: A GOP committee spokesperson said the staff meeting Friday at 4pm ET is "always the first step in matters such as this, with the next step being a member-level briefing."
- Committee Democrats have pressed Chair Brett Guthrie to bring Kennedy before the committee to testify, and a group of the lawmakers held a press conference outside HHS on Wednesday where they unsuccessfully demanded a meeting with the secretary.
- Kennedy hasn't yet responded to a request from the Senate HELP Committee to testify this week about the changes at the department.
Hill Republicans have been wary of publicly criticizing Kennedy, mostly saying that they want to see how things shake out.
- But questions are intensifying over the fate of FDA user fee programs, the measles response and, most recently, Kennedy's decision to end the federal recommendation for fluoride in drinking water.
- During his confirmation process, Kennedy committed to doing quarterly updates with Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy, if requested.
