'Did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?' Congressman grills HHS secretary on mask mandates

Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.) questioned U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra over the Biden administration's mask policy that recommended those who are 2 years old or older wear a mask, "even outdoors," according to the congressman.

"Mr. Secretary, did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?" the congressman from California asked.

"Making sure people wear masks when it was appropriate was essential to make sure that we were able to get out of this pandemic," Becerra replied.

"Sure, but that wasn't my question. Could you answer the question that I asked, which is did forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks save lives?" Kiley continued.

As Rep. Kiley pressed for answers, the HHS secretary held his position that the administration did not have the authority or jurisdiction to force masking.

"And who did the forcing?" Becerra answered.

"Well, your department, or the Head Start, which is under your department, had a mask mandate until late last year for 2-year-olds and above, even outdoors. So can you point to any public health benefit of that policy?" Kiley insisted.

"We never forced anyone to do anything because we don't have the jurisdiction or authority to do that. What we did was provide guidance —" Becerra began to explain before the congressman interrupted.

"Did Head Start have a mask mandate?

HHS directs mask guidance inquiries to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states, "Children ages 2 years and older can wear masks or respirators to protect themselves and others from COVID-19."

Head Start, which is under HHS, is a federally funded program that receives approximately $10 billion annually to provide early childhood education services to low-income children and families.

"We provide a mask mandate, a requirement for jurisdictions that wish to receive money to provide particular service," the secretary explained. "We had a mask mandate for agencies that wish to get federal dollars," he continued.

When the congressman continued to ask about any public health benefits that derived from the masking policy, the HHS secretary said that "families benefit" from using "all precautions."

When asked for evidence that there was a public health benefit, Becerra pointed to the fact that "today we are not losing lives the way we lost them when we first got into this pandemic."

Along with mask requirements for Head Start recipients, it was also revealed by the HHS secretary that states that don't allow sex changes or hormone therapy for minors would not receive federal hospital grants.

"Mr. Secretary, does this mean that HHS is seriously threatening to withhold hospital grants from states like [Indiana] if they refuse to go along with surgeries or puberty blockers for kids?" asked Republican Indiana Rep. Jim Banks.

"We’re going to protect the rights of any American to get the health care they’re entitled to, and if someone tries to stop them from that, that’s a violation of the law," Becerra responded.

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