Photo by Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy found himself in a tense exchange with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, as she pressed him on funding cuts to critical medical research programs, including cancer centers.
Baldwin, who represents Wisconsin, challenged Kennedy over delays and reductions in federal support for research institutions across several states, including her own. She accused the department of withholding millions in grants, asking whether the decisions were related to political opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
“I’ll ask you, is funding for Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers DEI?” Baldwin asked pointedly. “Because you’re holding up $65 million for 14 of those centers in nine states, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
She continued to press: “Is funding for cancer centers, DEI, because you’re holding up $47 million in cancer center support grants at nine cancer centers in eight states? Is funding for rare disease research DEI, because you’re holding up $55 million for 11 rare disease clinical research network grants in eight states?”
Baldwin framed the delays as politically motivated and harmful to ongoing efforts to combat serious illnesses. “These are just a few examples, and the list goes on and on, Secretary Kennedy,” she said.
Kennedy, visibly frustrated by the line of questioning and the limited time to respond, pushed back at the hearing’s format. “This is a fun game we’re playing,” he said sarcastically. “You ask questions and don’t give me a chance to answer them.”
Baldwin immediately responded, “It’s not a game,” making it clear she considered the matter to be of serious national concern. The heated exchange underscored the growing tensions between lawmakers and the Department of Health and Human Services over funding priorities under the Trump administration.
The dispute also highlighted a broader debate over whether political ideology is influencing science and health funding, particularly concerning programs with perceived DEI components.
As the hearing concluded, the issue remained unresolved, with Kennedy not providing direct answers to Baldwin’s accusations. However, the confrontation placed renewed attention on how the federal government is allocating—or withholding—critical research funds in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and rare diseases.
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