Congressional Update: HHS Secretary Testifies Before House Appropriations LHHS Subcommittee and Senate HELP Committee on FY 2026 Budget Request

On May 14, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) testified to both the House Appropriations Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee defending President Trump’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026. It is notable that this was the Senate HELP Committee’s first budget hearing in over 20 years. For more information, please see the Lewis-Burke Summary Report.