Congress urged to hold RFK Jr. accountable after health policy hearings

Former Republican congressmen and physicians Michael Burgess and Larry Bucshon wrote an opinion piece calling on lawmakers to keep pressure on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after recent congressional hearings.

The authors note that the hearings provided an opportunity for Congress to examine the Trump administration’s budget priorities, including a proposal to cut funding for the National Institutes of Health. They argue that sustained NIH funding is essential for the vaccine research pipeline that the public supports.

While Democrats were sharply critical of the secretary, the authors praise Republicans for pushing back against the proposed NIH cuts. They contend that Congress should continue to ask tough questions and monitor the secretary’s actions rather than simply applaud or condemn them.

The piece concludes that ongoing congressional oversight is needed to protect public‑health safeguards and ensure continued investment in biomedical research.