Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Unaware of Major Cuts to Healthcare Programs
In a recent interview with CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged his lack of knowledge regarding significant cuts to healthcare programs that he had a role in facilitating. This marks Kennedy’s first major television appearance since joining President Donald Trump’s cabinet.
Significant Budget Cuts Under Scrutiny
During the interview, Kennedy was questioned about proposed reductions amounting to over $11 billion in funding for local and state healthcare initiatives. These cuts impact various essential public health areas, including mental health support, addiction services, and vaccination programs for children.
When asked directly if he approved these budget cuts, Kennedy responded, “I’m not familiar with those cuts. Those were mainly DEI cuts, which the president ordered.”
Specific Program Cuts Highlighted
Dr. LaPook pointed to specific examples of affected programs, including a $750,000 reduction from a University of Michigan grant aimed at studying adolescent diabetes. Kennedy admitted, “I didn’t know that, and that’s something that we’ll look at.”
Promising Review of Affected Studies
While acknowledging the issue, Kennedy assured that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would investigate particular studies that were unjustly cut. “There’s a number of studies that were cut that came to our attention and that did not deserve to be cut, and we reinstated them. Our purpose is not to reduce any level of scientific research that’s important,” he remarked.
Context of Restructuring within HHS
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the HHS has undergone significant restructuring in tandem with initiatives led by Elon Musk’s DOGE project, resulting in the loss of around 10,000 jobs. Kennedy noted the necessity for reform, stating, “HHS’s job is to make America healthy, and we’re spending $1.9 trillion a year, and people are not getting healthy.”
Shifting Perspectives After the COVID-19 Pandemic
In a statement released by HHS, the department emphasized that it would no longer allocate substantial taxpayer funds responding to what it termed a “non-existent pandemic,” reflecting a new approach to public health funding moving forward. “The COVID-19 pandemic is over,” the statement declared.
This article is based on coverage originally published by Latin Times.
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