Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman on Wednesday had a fierce exchange with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health and welfare secretary (HHS) and in Democrats in New Jersey declared that Kennedy's “legitimacy” had been “expired” by health officials.
“The impact of the reorganization is something I constantly ask for to show to me,” Watson Coleman said as he burned Kennedy about an overhaul at an agency that affected programs related to minority and low-income health. “So let me warn you now. And I don't want rhetoric, I want numbers.”
“I welcome those inquiries,” Kennedy replied.
“One other thing that really bothers me is the liheap (low-income home energy assistance program),” she continued. “This is a program specifically addressing the needs of low-income and minority families related to heating and air conditioning. Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?”
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Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman had a fierce exchange with Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of Health and Human Services, on May 14, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Getty Images)
Kennedy tried to respond by saying, “I'm very committed to liheap. My brother ran…”
“I don't care about your past,” Watson Coleman said. “I'm interested in this department and your functioning in this administration in response to this question.”
“My time has expired,” Kennedy replied.
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“Well, so does your legitimacy,” Watson Coleman shot back. “I'll give in.”
Watson Coleman was grilling Kennedy at the House Budget Subcommittee Wednesday morning to cut staff to the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that helps low-income families maintain their home strength.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the House Budget Committee on Rayburn House Office Building on May 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
Kennedy answered her questions after the five-minute exchange expired, explaining that the Trump administration's energy policy would cut costs across the board, including low-income families.
“I am very conscious of the importance of reharp for the poor people across the country,” Kennedy said. “My brother ran a low-cost, non-profit fuel company for most of his life providing low-cost fuel in New England. I was a lot of people coming to me and saying, 'Because my life was saved.' When I visited about three months ago, I spoke about Buu van Nygren, president of Navajo Nation.
The rationale for the management and budget was that “President Trump's energy policy was trying to dramatically reduce the cost of energy in this country,” he said. “If that happens, Liheap is just another subsidy to the oil industry. If that doesn't happen, Congress will be welcomed and they have to make the money appropriate for Liheap.”
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Earlier in the pair's five-minute exchange, New Jersey lawmakers accused the Trump administration of carrying out a “racist attack.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a fierce exchange with Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman on May 14, 2025. (Stefan Jeremiah, Pool/AP)
“There's very little that makes me angry than racist attacks. I think this administration is done by driving the government out of programs that work to improve the lives of Black Americans,” she said, as she opposed federal government policies focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion and clinical theory initiatives. “The administration moved to ban the words black, race, prejudice, minority, oppression, prejudice, discrimination, disparity and racism.”
“Grant applications for federal programs that contain these words were quickly stripped of,” she argued, adding that such policies would worsen the healthcare system for Black Americans. “By doing this, it is painfully clear to me that this administration you work for and work in is trying to justify racism.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supported President Donald Trump for the president, before being tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Kennedy has repelled President Donald Trump's shared vision with Martin Luther King Jr.
“President Trump's vision for this country is the same as that of Martin Luther King, and we should be in a color blind administration,” he said. “President Trump is deeply concerned about the maternal health crisis and the fact that black mothers are 2.6 times more likely to die in childbirth. 260% could die.”
Watson Coleman replied, “I don't need this rhetoric about Donald Trump and the lies that he cares about me and black people.”
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Kennedy will head to the Senate side of Congress late Wednesday afternoon. He testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the HHS budget and recent staff cuts.
