Uninformed RFK Jr. Overlooks $11 Billion Health Reductions in His Own Agency's Budget

Uninformed RFK Jr. Overlooks $11 Billion Health Reductions in His Own Agency's Budget

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has denied any knowledge or approval of plans by the Trump administration to strip away $11 billion in funding from state and local health departments.

The funding cuts, initially announced last month, amounted to $350 million, significantly less than the $11 billion now threatened. HHS sent letters to various health departments announcing the immediate termination of $11.4 billion in federal grants, originally allocated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his first network TV interview as HHS secretary on CBS news, Kennedy stated that he was not familiar with the $11 billion funding cuts initially. His response suggests that he may not have been directly involved in the decision-making process regarding the cuts.

The Trump administration’s role in such budget decisions would have been prior to Kennedy’s tenure, and no search result links Kennedy with prior knowledge or approval of those funding cuts. Given that Kennedy was appointed by President Trump in 2025 (after Trump’s presidency ended in January 2025) and confirmed by the Senate, it is clear that the fund-cutting plans attributed to the Trump administration likely predate his time in office and are not referenced as Kennedy’s initiatives or approvals.

The court case regarding the funding reversal is ongoing, with over 20 states having filed a lawsuit against HHS and the federal government to prevent the funding reversal. Last week, a district judge agreed to temporarily block the funding stoppage until the court case is decided.

The funding cuts, if implemented, could potentially impact the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies. The grants were earmarked for a variety of public health initiatives, including funding community mental health services, supporting substance use prevention and treatment programs, and shoring up efforts to prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases.

Throughout his career, Kennedy has provided both good and bad advice in response to public health crises. He has supported vaccination as the most effective measure against measles, but also touted unsupported and potentially dangerous treatments such as cod liver oil supplements. Kennedy has even attended a measles victim’s funeral.

The Trump administration’s approach to public health has been inconsistent, with one step forward and three steps back. The administration’s actions have resulted in the potential destruction of health agencies across the country. It remains to be seen how Kennedy’s tenure as HHS secretary will impact public health initiatives in the United States.

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