Senators Clash With HHS Secretary Kennedy Over Vaccine Safety, Resignations

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, where Democratic senators including Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren sharply criticized his handling of vaccine policy and leadership at the CDC. Wyden called for Kennedy’s removal, blaming his tenure for chaos, corruption, and rising health costs, while accusing him of an anti-vaccine agenda that endangers public health. Warren argued that Kennedy’s narrower FDA guidance on COVID vaccines effectively limits access, contradicting his previous promises, and tensions escalated with Kennedy denying these claims and pointing to pharmaceutical contributions to Warren. Kennedy also clashed with Senator Michael Bennet over mRNA vaccine safety, controversially citing claims that these vaccines have caused harm, a stance widely disputed by medical experts. Additionally, Kennedy and Wyden sparred over rising childhood chronic disease rates, with Kennedy blaming decades of political inaction and highlighting the impact of ultra-processed foods and regulatory failures. The hearing reveals deep partisan divisions over public health policy and vaccine guidance under Kennedy’s leadership, amid ongoing turmoil at the CDC following the firing of its director and senior officials.