RFK Jr. grilled on health department funding cuts at his 3rd congressional hearing this month

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to Capitol Hill for his third congressional hearing in a week to face more heated questions from lawmakers about the drastic funding cuts his department has made as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.

Tuesday's hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee centered on Trump's 2026 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services, and within minutes, lawmakers expressed concerns about specific programs and funding that would be cut if the proposed budget passes.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., expressed concern in her opening remarks about program eliminations like those affecting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

"I support the president's vision to right-size our government, but as you and I have discussed, I don't think eliminating NIOSH programs will accomplish that goal," said Capito, who leads the subcommittee.

Later, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., also expressed concern over NIOSH staffing cuts and a mining safety-related grant cut. NIOSH, which focuses on workplace health and safety, hosts mining research programs. HHS reinstated 328 NIOSH employees this month after hundreds of its staffers received termination letters this spring.