RFK Jr. Dodges Accountability for Measles Surge
WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced pointed questions on Wednesday regarding the alarming rise in measles cases across the nation, yet he sidestepped any acknowledgment of responsibility.
For two days, Kennedy has been testifying before Congress about President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget proposal, all while dismissing claims that he bears any culpability for the measles outbreaks occurring during his tenure. Instead, he directed blame towards Mennonites, immigrants at the border, and international factors.
Under Kennedy's watch, thousands of Americans have contracted measles, predominantly among those who are unvaccinated. Despite the escalating crisis, the HHS secretary continued to misrepresent the severity of the situation and downplay the risks associated with the virus.
During a tense exchange, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) confronted Kennedy about his evasive responses throughout the week. “You’ve blamed the Mennonites. You’ve blamed immigrants. You’ve blamed the globe,” she stated, emphasizing that the U.S. is part of that global context. “And still, we are in this situation.”
“Do you take any responsibility in your role for the situation we’re in with this measles epidemic?” she pressed.
Kennedy’s response was a firm denial: “As I said, the measles epidemic began before I came into office.”
“I’m going to take that as a ‘no’,” Blunt Rochester replied, clearly frustrated.
Throughout the hearings, Kennedy exhibited defensiveness when questioned about vaccines and measles, even when inquiries were not overtly critical of his management of the outbreaks.
Earlier in the session, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the committee, inquired about HHS's preparations for the upcoming World Cup in the U.S., particularly regarding potential health risks from incoming tourists carrying vaccine-preventable diseases.
Instead of addressing the question, Kennedy boasted about his performance in managing measles outbreaks compared to other nations.
He cited a statistic that 80% of unvaccinated children in the U.S. are over five years old, suggesting that their parents' decisions not to vaccinate were made prior to his appointment. “The global pandemic of measles doesn’t have anything to do with me,” he asserted.
