RFK Jr.’s marathon of hearings on Capitol Hill displayed one simple truth: no amount of gaslighting can dim the lights on Trump and congressional Republicans’ health care affordability crisis. Donald Trump and Republicans cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Then they ripped away the tax credits that 22 million Americans relied on to see a doctor when they’re sick. And as Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr. is proudly carrying out this callous agenda — one designed to make the rich richer and everyone else poorer.
In addition to pursuing an anti-science agenda, RFK Jr. is overseeing the largest cuts to rural health care in history and hiking health care costs on those who can least afford it — all while supporting Trump pardoning his millionaire and billionaire friends of health care fraud. As a result, 15 million Americans are at risk of losing coverage, while nearly 900 hospitals, nursing homes, maternity wards, and other providers are shuttering, cutting essential services families rely on, or are at risk of both. Coverage of RFK Jr.’s hearings shows that he blatantly lied. He lied about cuts to Medicaid, about reducing the cost of prescription drugs, and about rural hospitals being forced to close their doors. He can try to gaslight the American people, but voters are seeing the truth on their TV screens, hearing about it on their podcasts, and reading about it in their newspapers.
HEADLINES
CNN: On Capitol Hill, RFK Jr. Defends Vaccine Policies, Ongoing Shakeups.
- “After being hammered by several Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid, Kennedy insisted that no cuts are taking place. […]. The ‘big, beautiful bill’ – which implements the first-ever work requirement in Medicaid and limits states’ ability to finance the program, among other changes – is expected to slash spending on Medicaid by a total of $1.2 trillion between 2026 and 2035, the CBO projected. […]. The Republican package is expected to reduce Medicaid enrollment by 13.1 million people in 2035, the CBO estimates.”
The New Republic: RFK Jr. Says Every Person Who Lost Health Insurance Is Illegal
- “In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which RFK Jr. oversees as health secretary, reported that 1.4 million fewer Americans had signed up for ACA plans because prices had gotten too high. That’s all thanks to Republicans and the Trump administration letting ACA subsidies expire. Kennedy doesn’t seem to care.”
Healthcare Dive: RFK Jr. Defends HHS Tenure, 12% Proposed Budget Cut.
- “During the hearings, Democrats argued the administration’s healthcare policies and the proposed cuts to the HHS are contradictory to Kennedy’s aims to improve Americans’ health and lessen chronic disease. For example, more generous financial assistance for health plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges expired at the end of 2025, causing premiums for many to skyrocket. And last year, Trump signed massive tax and policy legislation that includes significant cuts to Medicaid, likely culling millions of people from the safety-net insurance program.”
Vermilion County First: Rep. Kelly Confronts Secretary RFK Jr. About Medicaid Cuts, Black Maternal Health at Congressional Hearing
- “U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) forcefully pressed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding budget cuts to Medicaid at today’s Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing. Secretary Kennedy refused to recognize the $900 billion cut to Medicaid in the Big Ugly Law, doubling down on his statement that ‘there are no cuts to Medicaid.’ Rep. Kelly slammed his response as absurd.”
Economic Times: ‘Children Are Dying Because of You’: RFK Jr. Torched Over Vaccines, Medicaid Cut, Healthcare Reforms
- “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr faces explosive backlash in Congress over vaccine policies, Medicaid concerns, and healthcare reforms. Lawmakers accuse RFK Jr of spreading misinformation as measles outbreaks rise, with heated exchanges over public health risks and funding cuts.”
NPR: RFK Jr. Is on a Congressional Hearing Blitz, After a Long Absence From Capitol Hill
- “In the hearings so far […] Democrats have hammered him on vaccine skepticism, maternal health and Affordable Care Act premium costs.”
Forbes Breaking News: ‘15 Million Americans Will Lose Their Health Insurance’: Delauro Trashes GOP Over Medicaid Cuts
- “During a House Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) spoke about Republican cuts to healthcare.”
The Guardian: RFK Jr Accused of ‘Dangerous Conspiracy Theories’ at Heated Budget Hearing
- “Lawmakers also pushed Kennedy on cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Some 850 agents and brokers suspected of fraud were reinstated under the Trump administration, Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, pointed out. ‘Your administration was the one that let them all go back to work.’”
MS NOW: RFK Jr. Takes Lashing in First of Several Contentious Health Hearings.
- “Moore’s criticism — respectful as it was — was atypical coming from Republicans on the committee, who questioned the former anti-vaccine activist about Trump’s slashing of the HHS budget and Kennedy’s own chaotic leadership of public health. It was the first in a series of seven hearings, likely to be contentious, at which Kennedy is scheduled to speak over the next week, including another on Thursday afternoon.”
AAMC: RFK Jr. Testifies Before House Committees on FY27 HHS Budget.
- “During Kennedy’s Appearance Before the Ways and Means Committee, Democrats Raised Concerns About the Impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Cuts to the Medicaid Program.”
MEAWW: Dem Lawmaker Tells RFK Jr ‘You Shouldn’t Be In This Office’ at Heated Hearing Over Measles Deaths
- “Separately, Congressman Lloyd Doggett questioned Kennedy Jr over allegations of fraud linked to the ‘Affordable Care Act’ marketplace. Citing a government report, Doggett said more than 800 brokers previously suspended over suspected fraud had been reinstated, and pressed the secretary on how the issue was handled.”
VIDEOS
MSN (Video): ‘There Have Been No Cuts to Medicaid’: RFK Jr. Lies With a Straight Face to Members of Congress During House Hearing
- “In a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on April 16, 2026, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. claimed there have been no cuts to Medicaid, but the Congressional Budget Office has projected that Medicaid enrollment could decline by millions due to reductions in federal funding to state Medicaid programs.”
Daily KOS (Video): Watch AOC and Democrats Wipe the Floor With RFK Jr.
- “House Democrats dragged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a hearing on Tuesday in which he attempted to defend President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal. […]. Things didn’t get easier when Rep. Greg Landsman, Democrat of Ohio, pressed the health secretary on the nearly $1 trillion in health care cuts the Trump administration has used to give tax breaks to the wealthy. ‘You had mentioned the rural-hospital piece—$50 billion, largest investment—but there’s a reason why the Senate Republicans asked for a $50 billion rural-hospital investment,’ Landsman said. ‘[It’s] because of the nearly trillion-dollar cut to Medicaid.’”