Kennedy Jr., before a House committee Wednesday morning, defended the massive cuts to the department's workforce and laid out his priorities for the Trump administration's proposed budget-- all while he is expected to field questions about his history of promoting conspiracy theories and controversial comments about vaccines.

Due to contamination, swimming in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and nearby waters has been banned since 1971, NBC News said. A 2022 report from the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority showed "chronic elevated levels" of E.coli in Rock Creek. Sewage and stormwater has also added dangerous bacteria to the waters.