RFK Jr. is on a congressional hearing blitz, after a long absence from Capitol Hill

Health RFK Jr. is on a congressional hearing blitz, after a long absence from Capitol Hill April 22, 20265:00 AM ET Selena Simmons-Duffin Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears before the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. He has two more congressional hearings on Wednesday. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP When Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made dramatic, sudden changes to the childhood vaccine schedule without input from outside advisers, he did not appear before lawmakers to answer questions. When the U.S. capped off 2025 with more measles cases than the country has had in three decades, he did not come to Capitol Hill to answer lawmakers' questions. He also didn't come to explain the unprecedented decision to withhold $250 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota, a blue state that has been a frequent target of the Trump administration. While the party in power is not required to call hearings, Kennedy has made consequential, norm-shattering changes to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that beckon congressional oversight. Sponsor Message Finally, in the past week, lawmakers have had many hours to question Kennedy through seven hearings in various congressional committees and subcommittees. The topic for all is ostensibly the department's budget request for 2027, but in the five hearings so far, questions have ranged from rural health to the new nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to hospital drug-pricing policy. Health RFK Jr. defends his health agenda and Trump's proposed budget cuts in hearing On Wednesday, Kennedy finishes up his blitz of hearings at two consequential Senate committees: Finance and HELP, which stands for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Cassidy and Kennedy have history A key member of both of those committees is Sen. Bill Cassidy, R.-La. In February of last year, Cassidy cast the tie-breaking commi...