Luján Presses Secretary Kennedy on Republican Cuts to Medicaid, Demands Answers on HHS Employment of Anti-Vaccine Activist

WATCH – Senator Luján on MSNOW Discussing Secretary Kennedy’s Lies

Washington, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) pressed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on his policies that are endangering the health of the American people. Specifically, Senator Luján pressed Secretary Kennedy on deep Republican cuts to Medicaid, Secretary Kennedy’s long history of pushing vaccine misinformation, and the employment of David Geier, an anti-vaccine activist, at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Key Moments from the Senate Finance Committee Hearing:

Watch the exchange with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. here.

On Secretary Kennedy Denying Deep Cuts to Medicaid in the Republican Budget Betrayal:

Sen. Luján: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to submit into the record a CBO report from July 2025 on H.R. 1. Mr. Kennedy, that report found that there was a $990 billion cut to Medicaid. CBO report.

Sec. Kennedy: How can that be a cut?

Sen. Luján: Mr. Secretary, it’s in the record. I’ll be happy to share it with you. Your team has it as well. CBO report. July 2025.

Sec. Kennedy: It’s a cut from the growth rate. Only in Washington is that considered a cut. 

Sen. Luján: There you go Mr. Secretary. In the same way gas prices are not high today.

Senator Luján Pressing Secretary Kennedy Regarding HHS Employing Vaccine Skeptics:

Sen. Luján: Mr. Secretary, last time you were here I asked you why was it that David Geier was listed on the HHS directory as a senior data analyst. He still is. Is he a staff member or a contractor?

Sec. Kennedy: He’s a contract employee.

Sen. Luján: Mr. Secretary, you were asked by one of my colleagues about getting their hands on some documents that you may have. Do you have Mr. Geier’s contract?

Sec. Kennedy: I imagine we do. 

Sen. Luján: Would you share that with the committee by Friday?

Sec. Kennedy: I don’t think there is any problem, legal problem with it.  

Sen. Luján: There’s not a legal problem. It’s subject to Information of Public Records Act, which we could go about.

Sec. Kennedy: Well then, I’m happy to.

Sen. Luján: I appreciate that. And included in the contract, would you share, can we expect you to share with the committee by Friday the scope of David Geier’s contract?

Sec. Kennedy: I don’t see any reason why not.  

Earlier this month, Senator Luján wrote to Secretary Kennedy requesting answers regarding David Geier’s work at HHS. Read the full letter here.

Last September, Senator Luján joined all Finance Committee Democrats in demanding Robert F. Kennedy Jr. resign from his position as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

As the Measles outbreak continues to spread across the country and impact our public health, Senator Luján has repeatedly demanded action from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to contain the measles outbreak.

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