Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions about the Trump administration’s new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director selection, Erica Schwartz, at a House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee hearing Tuesday.
Kennedy, responding to questioning from Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), refused to commit to implementing “whatever vaccine guidance [Schwartz] issues without interference” if she is confirmed. He reiterated that he does not consider himself anti-vaccine, and touted the Department of Health and Human Service’s funding for research on a universal flu vaccine and cancer vaccines.
Schwartz — a former deputy surgeon general who once oversaw the Coast Guard’s health care system — does not have a history of questioning the safety of routine vaccinations like Kennedy, and has previously promoted vaccination. Kennedy did not say whether he agrees with her vaccine views, but he did say he vetted her vaccine positions and has spoken with her directly.
HHS senior advisor Calley Means, who is currently detailed to the White House, said Kennedy and the White House were in “lockstep” during the process of selecting Schwartz.
“Secretary Kennedy and Dr. Schwartz had many long conversations,” Calley said at POLITICO’s Health Care Summit Tuesday. “I think she is lockstep with Secretary Kennedy on the general MAHA ethos — that we need to let the science lead us and be fearless in the questions that we ask.”
Means also denied that he or Kennedy had been instructed by the White House to scale back discussing vaccines, a topic that also came up during Kennedy’s hearing.
The secretary denied news reports that he has been “sidelined” by the White House because of his views on vaccines. Later, at the same hearing, he said that neither White House chief of staff Susie Wiles nor anyone else in the White House has told him to stop talking about his vaccine skepticism.
“See, I think the reporting is correct, Mr. Secretary,” said Ruiz. “You’re making the president look bad especially before the midterm elections.”
“That’s not true,” Kennedy said. “You just want the soundbite without actually having a discussion.”
Key context: The exchange is the first time Kennedy has publicly answered questions about Schwartz’s vaccine stance. Kennedy also said that he was aware Schwartz was the nominee before it was announced but did not speak directly to President Donald Trump about it. He said Chris Klomp, a senior adviser to Kennedy, did.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the correct title for Rep. Raul Ruiz.
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