A Senate hearing spiraled out of control when Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. exploded in anger after being pressed on a basic question about child care funding—forcing a Republican senator to step in and calm things down.
The clash began during a budget hearing when Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) took aim at Kennedy’s leadership. She criticized what she called “illegal” cuts to staffing and funding at HHS and said his earlier testimony left her “pretty confused and concerned.”
“You repeatedly claimed staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly—and even confirmed by your department staff—are not happening,” Murray said. “So either you are lying or you’re not the one making the decisions.”
Then she dropped a direct question:
“Secretary Kennedy, whose decision was it to withhold child care and development block grant funding?”
Instead of answering, Kennedy deflected, blaming President Biden’s administration. Murray tried to steer him back, but Kennedy snapped.
“I want to point out something, Senator, you’ve presided here, I think, for 32 years. You’ve presided over the destruction of the health of the American people,” he shouted.
“Seriously?” Murray responded.
Kennedy doubled down.
“Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job!” he yelled.
“What have you done about it? What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease?”
That’s when Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) had to intervene.
“Mr. Secretary, I would ask you to hold back and let the senator ask the questions,” she said, cutting off the chaos.
After the dust settled, Murray calmly asked her question again. Kennedy’s answer?
“That was made by my department.”
The meltdown quickly made the rounds online. Critics didn’t hold back.
“RFK Jr. fell apart faster than a dollar store lawn chair at a Fourth of July barbecue,” one X user wrote. “If answering a basic childcare question sends him into verbal vapor lock, maybe he’s better suited for a wellness podcast on dial-up radio.”
“RFK Jr.’s meltdown over a basic childcare question shows he’s unfit for leadership,” another user replied. “If he can’t handle Senate scrutiny, how can he manage national health crises? His deflection tactics are a disgrace.”
Kennedy has been under fire not just for his temper but also for his record. At a hearing last week, he refused to comment on vaccine safety and even said,
“I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me.”
Sen. Murray summed it up plainly in a post after the hearing: “RFK Jr. is a shameless liar and, candidly, an insane conspiracy theorist. He’s fired the people who monitor bird flu. He’s fired food safety inspectors. He’s firing NIH clinical staff—and he’s cutting cancer research. This grifter is making America LESS healthy & LESS safe.”
Kennedy’s tantrum might have made headlines, but it’s his inability to answer the simplest questions that’s raising the most concern. Watch the clip below:
HHS Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy): "You presided over the destruction of the health of the American people. Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job.
Sen. @PattyMurray: "Mr. Secretary, seriously?!? Mr. Secretary, seriously?!?" pic.twitter.com/IDJWLCwQdp
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 20, 2025
