RFK Jr. fails to fact-check report, faces harsh questioning

On June 24, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health in the United States, faced a rigorous interrogation during a House subcommittee hearing. This session focused on his department's proposed budget for fiscal 2026 but quickly turned to criticisms surrounding 'The MAHA Report: Make Our Children Healthy Again'. Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz questioned Kennedy about the validity of the report, which cited over 500 studies. Kennedy acknowledged that he had not personally verified the sources, prompting Ruiz to inquire how the report could cite non-existent studies. The exchange highlighted the absence of accountability in the report's origins and its reliance on invalid citations. Throughout the hearing, which lasted more than three hours, Kennedy found himself on the defensive as multiple Democratic representatives challenged his record on healthcare and his affiliations with unorthodox health perspectives. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought up ongoing investigations by the Justice Department concerning alleged Medicare fraud by UnitedHealth Group, which Kennedy claimed he was unaware of. This statement drew skepticism from Ocasio-Cortez, underscoring a broader concern regarding his knowledge of significant healthcare issues affecting citizens. The hearing escalated when Rep. Frank Pallone queried Kennedy about modifications he made to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), highlighting the lack of transparency in decision-making regarding vaccines. Pallone accused Kennedy of disregarding the democratic process, stating that major public health decisions had proceeded without public input or accountability. This criticism was underscored by the political tensions evident in Kennedy's subsequent accusations against Pallone regarding financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, which raised further concerns about conflicts of interest in health policy. Ultimately, the hearing revealed deep divisions within Congress regarding health policy and the intersection of politics and public health, as Kennedy’s responses—often veering toward accusations rather than evidence—led to accusations of dishonesty and a lack of responsibility towards Congress. The entire exchange reflected increasing frustrations among lawmakers over accountability and the integrity of health communications within the administration, amidst ongoing debates about vaccine policy and the influence of pharmaceutical companies in health governance.