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House Democrats Challenge HHS Secretary on Measles, Vaccines and Autism Remarks
Summary
Democrats pressed Secretary Kennedy over the 2025 measles outbreak, his record on vaccines and prior public remarks about autism; Kennedy said the outbreak began before he took office and defended HHS responses and ongoing vaccine research.
During a lengthy question‑and‑answer period, Democratic members repeatedly pressed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about vaccination policy, recent measles outbreaks and prior public statements on autism.
Representative Mr. Takano asked whether Kennedy was concerned by the president's social‑media posts and whether they raised questions about presidential fitness; Kennedy declined to endorse forced assessments and said he would not invoke the 25th Amendment. Several members then turned to measles and vaccination rates. Kennedy replied that the U.S. outbreak began prior to his tenure and emphasized that many cases involved people who were unvaccinated, saying, “The measles outbreak began in January 2025 before I took office.”
Representative Bonamici and others criticized prior HHS actions they said stalled routine vaccination programs and expressed alarm that vaccination rates had fallen below coverage thresholds. Kennedy defended targeted treatments and broader prevention work and said HHS had approved vitamin A use as part of measles responses where recommended by international health organizations.
The hearing also included emotional exchanges over Kennedy's past comments about autism and people with disabilities. Representative McBath, whose son was killed in a shooting, pushed Kennedy for an apology over earlier remarks she said demeaned people with autism; Kennedy said his remarks had referred to people with profound autism and that he had heard letters from families thanking him for addressing hard‑to‑serve populations.
Lawmakers said these statements and policy shifts affect public trust in vaccines and public‑health guidance; several requested records and additional briefings on the department's decisions and research activities related to vaccination and autism.
