McMahon doesn't rule out RFK Jr. role in school vaccines
Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a Sunday interview did not rule out the possibility that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could be involved in school vaccination policy.
She stressed, however, that President Trump’s recent executive order to begin dismantling the Education Department focuses on rerouting funding for children with disabilities to HHS — not on addressing school vaccination policies.
“That's a little bit outside of looking at making sure that we have funding for children with disabilities,” McMahon said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” when asked whether Kennedy would be involved in vaccination of children at schools.
“So that's a no?” CNN’s Dana Bash pressed.
“That’s not necessarily a no,” McMahon responded. “I'm just saying that, right now, the Department of Education, through the funding for children with disabilities, is not controlling vaccinations and that sort of thing in states.”
Trump on Friday said he is shifting programs for students with disabilities to HHS as he seeks to wind down and eventually eliminate the Education Department.
“Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.
The announcement came a day after Trump signed an executive order for McMahon to dismantle the Education Department as far as is legally allowed.
While the department can’t be completely eliminated without an act of Congress, the Trump administration has made it clear it will seek to abolish any congressionally mandated programs and move any of those to other federal agencies.
Topics
-
RFK Jr. spends his first month at HHS downplaying vaccines and targeting food additives
A month into his role as health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s moves on vaccines have worried health experts.NBC News - Mar. 14 -
Jack Schlossberg calls out Trump, RFK Jr., says family got no 'heads up' on JFK files release
Jack Schlossberg, former President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, called out President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the release of close to 2,200 files on ...The Hill - 5d -
RFK Jr directs FDA to revise ‘self-affirm’ rule to improve food ingredient safety
Health secretary accuses food companies of ‘exploiting loophole’ over food safety and urges greater transparency. The US secretary of health and human services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has directed ...The Guardian - Mar. 11 -
RFK Jr. could further deter childhood vaccinations as rates fall in the U.S.
Some health policy experts say Kennedy's early moves as HHS Secretary are concerning and suggest that he could undermine immunizations in less direct ways.CNBC - Mar. 9 -
RFK Jr. and Djokovic share a passion for tennis along with their views about vaccines
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Novak Djokovic apparently share a passion for tennis along with their beliefs about vaccines. Kennedy, the nation's top health official, posted a photo on X on Sunday of ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Texas doctor urges vaccine amid deadly measles outbreak
The measles outbreak is drawing new attention to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his suggestions of alternatives to the measles vaccine. CBS News' Omar Villafranca ...CBS News - Mar. 12 -
RFK Jr.’s first month as health secretary: Touting French fries and casting doubts on vaccines
Robert FABC News - Mar. 13 -
RFK Jr. pressures Big Food to remove artificial dyes in meeting with CEOs
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told top food CEOs that he wants "the worst ingredients" out of food.CNBC - Mar. 12 -
Education secretary on canceled Columbia money: 'We are on the right track'
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Sunday discussed the possible restoration of $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, saying that the Trump administration and the school “are on ...The Hill - 2d
More from The Hill
-
Signal gets closer look amid uproar over Trump officials' group chat
{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Signal thrown into spotlight amid group chat breach Top Trump national security officials' use of messaging app Signal is raising new questions ...The Hill - 43m -
Supreme Court weighs which courts can hear Clean Air Act disputes
The Supreme Court appears poised to keep at least some Clean Air Act disputes in federal courts outside of DC — preventing what at least one justice described as “home court advantage” for the ...The Hill - 1h -
Meeting with House panel, OPM officials cut short after clash between top lawmakers
A closed-door meeting between members of a House subcommittee and officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was cut short on Tuesday after the top two lawmakers on the panel clashed ...The Hill - 1h -
Social Security chief: DOGE access to systems revoked after court order
Leland Dudek, acting commissioner for the Social Security Administration (SSA), said as of Monday the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) no longer has access to the agency’s systems in an ...The Hill - 1h -
White House digs in as furor grows over war plans chat
Presented by National Council on Aging — Plus: Putin gifts Trump portrait {beacon} White House digs in as furor grows over breach PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SIGNALING the White House will stand by its ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Signal gets closer look amid uproar over Trump officials' group chat
{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Signal thrown into spotlight amid group chat breach Top Trump national security officials' use of messaging app Signal is raising new questions ...The Hill - 43m -
Supreme Court weighs which courts can hear Clean Air Act disputes
The Supreme Court appears poised to keep at least some Clean Air Act disputes in federal courts outside of DC — preventing what at least one justice described as “home court advantage” for the ...The Hill - 1h -
Hakeem Jeffries called for Pete Hegseth to be fired over Signal chat disclosure
Politico - 1h -
Hakeem Jeffries called for Pete Hegseth to be fired over Signal chat disclosure
Politico - 1h -
Meeting with House panel, OPM officials cut short after clash between top lawmakers
A closed-door meeting between members of a House subcommittee and officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was cut short on Tuesday after the top two lawmakers on the panel clashed ...The Hill - 1h