Protestor Startles RFK Jr. During Hearing Before Being Picked Up And Forcibly Removed

A protester startled Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, loudly yelling while he was testifying at a congressional budget hearing.

It was unclear what the protester yelled, but Kennedy stopped talking while law enforcement officers forcibly removed her from the room. Other people joined the protest and were removed as well, with one being picked up by an officer.

The hearing featured several contentious moments with committee members. In one of them, RFK Jr. side-stepped a direct question about whether he would vaccinate his children against measles should they be young today.

"For measles, probably for measles, you know," Kennedy began, before quickly pivoting. "What I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant... I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me."

The moment came after a congressman noted that Kennedy had previously said he vaccinated his children and stressed this wasn't a "gotcha" moment. But Kennedy remained hesitant, stating, "I don't want to seem like I'm being evasive," while simultaneously declining to give a yes-or-no answer.

"I think if I answer that question directly, it will seem like I'm giving advice to other people, and I don't want to be doing that," he said.

The Health and Human Services Secretary has come under fire in recent weeks over a string of moves — from backing the end of a federal program that distributes life-saving overdose medication, to floating the idea of a national database for people with autism. He also made headlines for taking a swim in a sewage-contaminated river despite public health warnings advising against it.