This is the moment RFK Jr had an explosive exchange with a blue-haired Democratic lawmaker over plans to make school lunches healthier for children.
After hours of tough questioning from both Republicans and Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, Kennedy launched into a fiery monologue about the state of children’s nutrition.
He began calmly, describing updated federal nutrition guidelines that will tell people to ‘eat whole food’ before getting visibly animated. ‘I’ve been touring these Head Start facilities, and everything they eat is in a package. It’s loaded with sugar and with chemicals,’ he told Rep John Moolenaar of Michigan.
‘We’re poisoning this generation… the poorest kids in our country, and we’re starting them out with this count against them.’
Head Start, a federal early education program for low-income families with kids under 5, faces elimination under Trump’s latest budget proposal, which would cut school funding for over 500,000 pregnant women, babies, and children.
‘If anybody thinks that we did gold standard medicine in this country from these institutions, look at our children! They’re the sickest children in the world,’ Kennedy exclaimed.
Kennedy turned to Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, who has authored legislation, written to Congress, worked with advocacy groups, and pressured the industry to remove dyes and additives from food for decades.
‘Congresswoman DeLauro, you say you’ve worked for 20 years on getting food dye out,’ RFK said. ‘Give me credit! I got it out in 100 days.’
After previewing new federal nutrition guidelines—urging Americans to ‘eat whole, healthy foods’—RFK Jr. pivoted to a fiery critique of youth nutrition standards
RFK Jr then addressed Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, saying: ‘Congresswoman DeLauro, you say you’ve worked for 20 years on getting food dye out. Give me credit! I got it out in 100 days’
Read More
Beloved fast-food chain makes flavor-changing recipe decision to appease RFK Jr
Last month, RFK and fellow federal health officials announced they had come to ‘an understanding’ with food manufacturers on a proposal to phase out the use of Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 by the end of 2026 and start using natural alternatives. Foods still contain dyes and additives.
‘Let’s work together and do something that we all believe in, which is to have healthy kids in our country for God’s sake,’ RFK said.
Emerging research shows that eating or drinking high amounts of Red 40 and similar synthetic dyes may contribute to hyperactivity and behavioral changes in children, including those without an ADHD diagnosis.
Evidence suggests these additives can worsen attention deficits and impulse control in sensitive individuals.
Earlier in the hearing, RFK was confronted on food dyes by Tennessee Rep Chuck Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries.
RFK Jr clashed first with Rep John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan. He asked RFK Jr about what Congress to do to promote health lunches and other nutrition goals at Community Health Centers
The colors currently in use by most food manufacturers ‘are approved by the FDA [and] have been deemed safe for many years,’ the Congressman said.
Among his major goals in his tenure as head of Health and Human Services, which has jurisdiction over the FDA, is to make a sizable dent in the rates of chronic diseases plaguing young people in the US, including colorectal cancer.
Kennedy also faced questioning about massive cuts to NIH-funded research, including from Washington Sen. Patty Murray.
She presented to him the case of a Washington resident named Natalie who has been living with advanced stage cancer for years and whose cancer treatment could be significantly delayed as a result of further NIH cuts.
Sen Murray asked specifically how many staff had been cut from the NIH’s clinical center, which RFK Jr could not answer.
‘Well, that is not acceptable,’ the senator said. ‘I want an answer back by that—she deserves it … She doesn’t have much time. She deserves an answer back.’
The exchange became heated when Kennedy fired back: 'You don't care. You don't care about Natalie.'
RFK Jr is moving to strip synthetic food dyes from US food (stock)
He added: 'I think the cuts that are now proposed by NIH are going to hurt.
'I think that President Trump, you know what, listen—there's no agency head in the government, like myself, that wants to see their budget cut.'
In April, HHS started cutting approximately 10,000 jobs and merging 28 institutes into 15 streamlined divisions.
Combined with another 10,000 employees who recently departed through early retirement or buyout programs, the agency’s workforce will shrink from 82,000 to roughly 62,000— a 25 percent reduction.
Wisconsin Sen Tammy Baldwin, then, asked RFK to explain cuts to the CDC's lead prevention program, which has been decimated.
'Now, Secretary Kennedy, I want to start with what I hope is an easy question for you, do you think lead poisoning in children is a significant concern?' Sen Baldwin asked.
Kennedy replied that it was an 'extremely significant concern.'
Kennedy claimed HHS would still use the program’s funding—but failed to explain how it would function without its specialized workforce.
In both the House hearing and the one later in the day, RFK clashed with lawmakers over his long history of anti-vax advocacy.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) accused him of consistently undermining the measles vaccine by repeating falsehoods including that they were not properly clinically tested (they were), that they contain fetal remains (it does not), and that immunity wanes quickly (it does not).
RFK doubled down, yelling, 'All true!' and shouting, 'You do not know what you’re talking about.'
Kennedy has repeatedly said (including during the morning House hearing) that he wants parents to 'weigh the pros and cons' – which lawmakers argue undermines faith in the overwhelmingly safe and effective vaccine.
When pressed on whether he would recommend vaccinating children, RFK responded:
'Senator, if I advised you to swim in a lake I knew there to be alligators in, wouldn't you want me to tell you there were alligators in it?'
He added: 'I’m going to tell the truth about everything we know (and don’t know) about vaccines. I am not going to just tell people something is safe and effective if I know that there’s issues.'