Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced hours of questioning Thursday from the House Ways and Means Committee on the Trump administration's health agenda, including efforts to combat chronic disease and proposed budget cuts.

The hearing, which began at 9 a.m. EDT in the Longworth House Office Building, focused on oversight of HHS and the fiscal year 2027 budget request. It marked the start of a series of congressional appearances for Kennedy, with Senate committees scheduled next week. The session recessed around noon for votes.

Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) opened by praising Kennedy as a leader in the Make America Healthy Again movement. Smith highlighted the nation's $5.3 trillion annual health spending amid widespread chronic disease affecting more than 60% of Americans. He called for realigning incentives toward prevention, including nutrition and exercise, and criticized industry consolidation driving up costs. Smith also commended HHS efforts on rural health via a $50 billion program, foster care reforms tied to First Lady Melania Trump's initiative, and fraud crackdowns, citing $60 billion in Medicare waste.

In his opening remarks, Kennedy touted accomplishments like expanding nutrition education in medical schools, rural health boosts, and promoting "real food." He quoted his uncle, President John F. Kennedy: "Progress is a nice word, but change is its motivator. And change has its enemies." Kennedy emphasized reversing chronic disease trends to lower costs and improve public health.

Democrats pressed Kennedy on vaccine policies amid rising measles cases, with nearly 2,300 last year and over 1,700 this year. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) blamed Kennedy's "conspiracy theories" for outbreaks and child deaths. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) criticized the suspension of CDC pro-vaccine campaigns, including flu shots, and mocked a promotional video of Kennedy with Kid Rock. Sanchez asked if the measles vaccine could have saved a Texas child; Kennedy replied, "It’s possible, certainly."

Other exchanges included Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) challenging the reinstatement of over 800 suspended fraud suspects, prompting Kennedy to blame Biden-era directives halting integrity checks. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) opposed reversing newborn hepatitis B shots, which Kennedy called low-risk without maternal infection. Kennedy defended reclassifying peptides as supplements and vowed to overhaul the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for better transparency.

On the budget, Kennedy addressed a proposed 12.5% or $16 billion cut, expressing unhappiness with reductions to WIC and SNAP but supporting a new Administration for a Healthy America. Republicans like Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) raised FDA improvements, while Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) critiqued messaging on Tylenol and autism.

The testimony underscored tensions over HHS restructuring, with Kennedy positioning reforms as essential to fiscal sustainability and health gains. More hearings loom in the Senate.