HHS secretary defends FY2026 overhaul; Democrats warn cuts will erode NIH, CDC and FDA programs

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, defended the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget and a proposed HHS reorganization at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, while Democrats warned that proposed cuts and personnel reductions already underway are damaging core public‑health programs.

Kennedy said the budget reflects an effort “to make America healthy again,” emphasizing a push to “spend smarter” by shifting funding “away from bureaucracy toward direct impact” and to preserve legacy programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Head Start. He told lawmakers, “If you appropriate the money, I'm gonna spend that money,” when pressed about congressionally appropriated research funds.

Ranking Member DeLauro sharply disputed the proposal. “Under your budget proposal, Americans would die of needless and preventable deaths,” she said, repeatedly accusing the administration of cutting tens of billions from NIH, CDC and FDA programs and of “recklessly and unlawfully freezing and stealing congressionally appropriated funds.” DeLauro and other Democrats pointed to reported…