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🚨RFK jr. is currently testifying before the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee. We're keeping a close watch. Follow along for updates HERE ⬇️ (🧵):

From Carter: The system is expensive and failing public health. 35% of adults are obese. Rising health care premiums are a problem. Promoting MAHA message. Looking forward to hearing more about HHS plans & FDA modernization.

DeGette: MAHA report contained a lot of errors, including AI hallucination & fabricated results. US is the leader in biomedical research. 24% cancer death rate. Antiviral cures Hep C. 154 million lives saved with vaccination globally. All driven by HHS. Trump/DOGE causing chaos in this system.

DeGette Cont: Cuts were haphazard. Funding halts are hugely damaging. Americans are dying waiting for care. Research is stopping. She referenced the WaPo article on delayed cancer trials. Says 2026 Budget is a chaos roadmap. Will result in less research, of lower quality, & brain drain.

DeGette Cont: Budget will be eliminating programs in diabetes and maternal fetal health, fewer healthcare providers trained. Emphasizes that this WILL cost jobs and lives!!

Guthrie: HHS work impacts public everywhere. Says core mission: increase health and wellness of the public. MAHA resonates because people want this, too. Budget rethinks how HHS accomplishes its mission. How can we be more efficient in this mission?

Countless examples of Admin to modernize, e.g., AI driven advancement. We should increase momentum. Emphasizes "fraud and waste" line in healthcare system. HHS should collab with congress, we should help America get more health. DeGette: Gary Andres we are happy you are here!

Pallone: Trump chaos in HHS is damaging. This hearing meant to get answers...we have demanded answers to the illegal actions of the current admin. RFK has given no justification. Deep concerns with nomination, fired all ACIP members and appointed 8 anti-vaxxers.

Pallone: You have exceeded expectations in the worst possible ways. You are not upholding committements to the senate, but instead, advancing pseudoscience. 340 current employees signed Bethesda Declaration, an unprecedented action! 💯💯💯

Pallone: Grantees and stakeholders cannot get questions answers, deadlines being missed, programs shut down. 54% cut to CDC threatening agency mission 20% cut to NIH cut research 11% cut to FDA decimating ability to keep food safe

Pallone: Re-org will cut progress for public health. GOP pushing bill that will take healthcare away from 15 million Americans. Dire consequences. Oversight committee meeting called about the vaccine panel. Long time member of the Kennedy crew, admire family & work, but this upsetting.

RFK JR BEGINS: We want to end chronic disease, deliver better healthcare, do more with less through MAHA. Budget reflects compassion and responsibility. US = sickest developed nation but spend more per cap compared to other nations. (Maybe we should try healthcare for all???🤔)

RFK jr: We must spend smarter, but will preserve medicaid and medicare, continue vulnerable population care. Millions don't have access to primary care > indigenous groups a focus. claims to be "most compassionate" HHS admin in history...

RFK jr: HHS will: - combat opioid crisis, empower states to make effective solutions. - focus on nutrition & exercise w/ nutrition service for kids. - FDA expand food safety efforts through research and education. - End gain of function fresearch and "radical gender based ideology".... (cont ➡️)

- eliminate DEI funding - Use AI to manage data better - Rebuild public trust. New era of public service that answers to the president, congress, and people.

Carter: Debt crisis 36.2 trillion dollars. We must bring down the debt and stop waste, fraud, and abuse. We cannot just throw money at this health issue again. Vision for proposed reorg of HHS?

RFK jr: cuts are designed to reduce eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. Biden added 38% to budget but "health declined precipitously". 1986 spent equivalent of 245 billion in current dollars, now 1.5 trillion now. 11th in lifespan in 1986 to 49th today. Throwing money at the agency hasn't worked.

Carter: Elaborate on what we have done RFK: Very few studies at NIH doing studies on chronic disease. What do seed oils do to children? pesticides to children? No one is asking these questions.

RFK jr: 2.2 mil impacts on exogenous communication on gender diverse speakers 3 mill vaping sm campaigns 1 mil sexual fluidity and changes in alcohol use "studies doing nothing to improve american health" Emphasizes "Gold" standard, transparent, publish peer review & "evidence based science"

DeGette: Information seeking letters (dozens, lists dates) no response from agency. *Entering letters into the record* Judge Young 6/16 says NIH grants must resume. "bereft of reasoning" Does department intend to comply? yes/no RFK: I will comply with the law

D: 4/17 article here, consent to enter into record. 6/9 Bethesda Declaration released. 68 nobel laurates signed this letter. 6/10 anti-retaliation Committ to NO retaliation? RFK: absolutely depoliticizing science D: will you committ? RFK: Biden admin...

D: COMITT TO NO RETALIATION FOR THE BETHESDA DECLARATION? RFK: I don't know anything about the letter D: It is in the record, we want a response. - RE: reduction in force...how many HHS recieved RIF notices? RFK: 10k ish, I approved the policy. D: Jay said he didn't know about... *end time*

Guthrie: what is the status of RIF? Able to discuss action or legal limit information? Path forward if the injunction is cleared? RFK: litigation...can't discuss... Guthrie: Path forward? RFK: *general confusion* People on RIF are on administrative leave until injunction is lifted.