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Kennedy grilled by GOP doctors

by Joseph Choi and Nathaniel Weixel - 04/22/26 6:55 PM ET

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by Joseph Choi and Nathaniel Weixel - 04/22/26 6:55 PM ET

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Kennedy faces tough questions from GOP doctors

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled on vaccines and other issues Wednesday by two top GOP senators who are also physicians.

Greg Nash

Kennedy has long sought to cast doubt on the safety of vaccines. During his first year at HHS, Kennedy overhauled the childhood vaccine schedule to reduce the number of recommended shots.

In a Senate Finance Committee hearing Wednesday morning, Majority Whip Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) asked Kennedy about his actions on vaccines.

“I think there’s been more confusion for families and providers and sometimes it’s very hard to keep up with the [vaccine] recommendations,” Barrasso said.

Barrasso, who was a surgeon before his Senate career, previously questioned Kennedy about vaccine access in September, which was the last time Kennedy appeared before the panel.

On Wednesday, he asked if Kennedy was taking steps “to ensure vaccine guidance is clear, evidence-based and trustworthy?”

Kennedy said that he is doing that, though he added he could not discuss all his actions, since some are currently under litigation.

In an afternoon hearing in the Senate health committee, chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also homed in on vaccines.

“When I see outbreaks numbered in the thousands and people dying once more from vaccine preventable diseases, particularly children, it seems more than tragic,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy sought assurances that the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be free to make decisions independently of any political appointees, who Cassidy said are “undermining trust in vaccines.”

Kennedy bristled and said Cassidy’s characterization of political appointees was wrong, and that the CDC director has that power now.

Barrasso also questioned Kennedy about potential changes to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, saying he was concerned Kennedy and HHS “are not really prioritizing” its work.

Barrasso said he was concerned Kennedy would undermine the panel’s independence and change how it evaluates the benefits and harms of preventive screenings.

“I can promise you, Senator, we are not going to undermine any of those functions and I don’t think we’ll get any criticism for doing so,” Kennedy said.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Joseph Choi and — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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