Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
MaddowBlog-RFK Jr. is stumped about developments in his own department (again)
Either the health secretary avoided a subject he didn’t want to talk about or he’s still ignorant about what’s happening at the agency he ostensibly leads.
Every time RFK Jr is asked about key developments at his own agency, and he says he’s clueless about the developments, it raises fresh questions about whether he’s actually running HHS. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-15T20:34:51.047Z
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/rfk-jr-is-stumped-about-developments-in-his-own-department-again
The same report added, “Though the Trump administration is still defending in court far bigger federal cuts to Planned Parenthood that Congress approved last summer, the release of the Title X funds gives the clinics a crucial lifeline. It is also likely to inflame existing tensions between the administration and anti-abortion conservatives who will rally in Washington later this month for the annual March for Life.”
Two days later, the developments came up during a brief Q&A in the Oval Office.
...It’s possible that RFK Jr. was being less than honest, reluctant to talk about developments that the White House might consider politically problematic. But given recent history, there’s a more plausible explanation: RFK Jr. couldn’t answer the reporter’s question because he doesn’t keep up on developments at the agency he ostensibly leads.
Last spring, for example, when RFK Jr. sat down with CBS News, the network’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook pressed the Cabinet secretary on some of his most controversial decisions. RFK Jr., however, repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of the actions LaPook was describing.
A month later, the HHS secretary ran into a similar problem during back-to-back appearances before House and Senate committees: Lawmakers kept asking RFK Jr. about steps he and his department had taken, and he kept responding with answers such as, “When did I do that?” and “I don’t know about that.”.....
“Secretary Kennedy, listening to your testimony last week frankly left me pretty confused and concerned about what’s happening at your department,” the senator said. “You repeatedly claimed that staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly and even confirmed by your department staff are not happening. So either you’re lying or you’re not the one making decisions.”
Months later, the salience of Murray’s pushback lingers for a reason.
Two days later, the developments came up during a brief Q&A in the Oval Office.
Q: It's been reported that HHS released frozen funds to Planned Parenthood last month. Why did that happen?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-01-14T20:41:19.833Z
TRUMP: I don't know anything about it. Bobby, do you?
RFK Jr: I have not heard that
...It’s possible that RFK Jr. was being less than honest, reluctant to talk about developments that the White House might consider politically problematic. But given recent history, there’s a more plausible explanation: RFK Jr. couldn’t answer the reporter’s question because he doesn’t keep up on developments at the agency he ostensibly leads.
Last spring, for example, when RFK Jr. sat down with CBS News, the network’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook pressed the Cabinet secretary on some of his most controversial decisions. RFK Jr., however, repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of the actions LaPook was describing.
A month later, the HHS secretary ran into a similar problem during back-to-back appearances before House and Senate committees: Lawmakers kept asking RFK Jr. about steps he and his department had taken, and he kept responding with answers such as, “When did I do that?” and “I don’t know about that.”.....
“Secretary Kennedy, listening to your testimony last week frankly left me pretty confused and concerned about what’s happening at your department,” the senator said. “You repeatedly claimed that staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly and even confirmed by your department staff are not happening. So either you’re lying or you’re not the one making decisions.”
Months later, the salience of Murray’s pushback lingers for a reason.