RFK Jr. heads back to Capitol Hill

RFK Jr. heads back to Capitol Hill 

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will return to Congress this week for a second round of hearings, where Democrats and even some Republicans will likely press him about sweeping changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and proposed cuts to the agency’s budget. 

The most anticipated hearings come Wednesday, when Kennedy will take questions from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Cassidy is chairman of the Senate health committee and sits on the Finance Committee.

Cassidy, a physician, cast the deciding vote to make Kennedy health secretary after publicly wrestling with the decision. But he has since clashed with Kennedy over vaccines and the firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez, who was ousted after being on the job less than a month. Cassidy is also facing a Trump-backed primary challenger during this year’s reelection campaign. 

Last September, Cassidy publicly requested Kennedy testify before the health committee for an oversight hearing to “share his side of the story” about the Monarez firing. Nothing was ever scheduled, and President Trump just announced the nomination of a new agency director who will need Senate confirmation. 

During three hearings in the House last week, Kennedy tried to avoid talking about vaccines and instead leaned into messaging about food and drug pricing. The White House has made a concerted effort to steer clear of officials mentioning the controversial vaccine changes ahead of November’s midterm elections over fears of alienating voters.  

Polls show the administration is right to worry.  

For instance, a poll released Monday by the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease showed Americans prefer congressional candidates who support vaccine access and want immunization recommendations free of political interference. 

Half of voters polled said they were less confident in their political leaders after recent federal changes to recommendations. According to the poll, 54 percent said they would be less likely to support a candidate who seeks to roll back vaccine recommendations, even if they agree with that candidate on other issues. 

Even among those in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, support for a candidate that wants to maintain vaccine access beat out support for a candidate who wants to roll back vaccine recommendations by a +29-point margin. 

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

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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Grassley undergoes procedure to remove gallstones

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Joe Rogan joins Trump to sign order allowing psychedelic drug research

Podcaster Joe Rogan joined President Trump and others in the Oval Office on Saturday as he signed an executive order accelerating research for certain psychedelic drugs used to treat mental health disorders. “Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life,” Trump said. The order, which also directs the Food and Drug administration …

Trump’s pick to lead CDC signals shift away from vaccine skepticism

President Trump’s selection of a longtime civil servant and public health veteran to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the strongest signal yet that the administration is shifting away from a rhetoric of vaccine skepticism ahead of the midterm elections. Trump on Thursday tapped Erica Schwartz, the deputy surgeon general during his first term, to lead the beleaguered agency. If …

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Capitol Hill this week for a second round of congressional hearings on President Trump’s budget, appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he’ll appear before the Senate Finance Committee and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday looking into Medicare fraud.

The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing Tuesday scrutinizing the PBM business model.

Branch out with a different read:

Trump and his Cabinet offer mixed messages on gas prices amid Iran war

President Trump and his Cabinet officials are offering mixed messages on gas prices as Americans grow increasingly uneasy over the Iran war’s economic impact.  Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN on Sunday that gas prices may not drop back below $3 a gallon until next year.  

Local and state headlines on health care:

How a Kentucky county uses flowers to fight stigma around mental health (Kentucky Lantern) 

For 2 decades, opioids flooded the San Luis Valley. Medicaid cuts now threaten the region’s recovery. (Colorado Sun) 

Aspiring pot companies had big dreams for Florida. Reality has hit hard. (Politico) 

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Influencers are spinning nicotine as a ‘natural’ health hack (New York Times) 

As measles takes toll on kids, anti-vaxxers have change of heart (Bloomberg) 

Even for trans adults, care is hard to find (Stat) 

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

Alcohol is our worst substance use problem: Don’t cut research funding

This 4/20, Democrats should take back the lead on legalization

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! 

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