U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, questioned U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. during a hearing focused on the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.
During the session, Senator Capito emphasized the critical role of clinical trials in medical research and innovation. She noted their importance for patients with cancer and chronic diseases when traditional treatments fail. Capito asked if HHS or any sub-agency had evaluated patient access to clinical trials amid ongoing reorganization efforts.
Secretary Kennedy responded, “We are not cutting any clinical trials and we’re not cutting drug development. We’re cutting administrative costs.”
The discussion also covered healthcare challenges in rural America. Senator Capito highlighted issues such as high rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease in these areas. She expressed concern over proposed cuts to HRSA programs due to their significance in rural health initiatives.
Capito stated, “There’s such significant healthcare challenges in rural America… I am concerned about that because of the access issue and because the inequities that I see…where people have easier access to health care than rural America.”
She further addressed obstacles faced by rural communities including transportation, connectivity, and generational health issues, questioning how these would be improved under HHS’s reorganization plans.
