(NewsNation) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before both chambers of Congress on Wednesday and is expected to face questions from lawmakers over his first months leading the agency.
Since his confirmation as the nation’s top health official, Kennedy has fired at least 10,000 workers, consolidated the nation’s health infrastructure, canceled scientific funding grants and sent mixed messages on the measles outbreak.
Kennedy will appear before the House Appropriations subcommittee at 9:30 a.m. EDT and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
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The hearings follow months of anticipation. Kennedy was expected to appear before the Senate committee in April amid massive changes in the Department of Health and Human Services.
The explicit purpose of both meetings is to discuss the Trump administration’s proposed budget — and the department’s $500 million request to boost Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Trump’s budget proposal also outlines cuts to maternal health, infectious disease prevention and preschool programs.
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Questioning is expected to shift from finances to Kennedy’s departmental shake-up and controversial focuses on autism, food dyes and fluoride, among other topics.
Kennedy plans to “share his vision on how HHS’ transformation will improve health outcomes, eliminate redundancies to save the American taxpayer, and streamline operations to improve efficiency and service,” HHS said in a statement to the Associated Press.
