Kennedy Family Urges HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Resignation After Senate Hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, is facing intense calls to resign from members of his own family, prominent politicians, and public health advocates after a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing where he was criticized for his anti-vaccine views and actions undermining public health institutions. His nephew, Joe Kennedy III, labeled him a threat to the health and wellbeing of Americans, accusing him of dismissing science, misleading the public, and sowing confusion, and demanded his resignation. Additional family members, including Kerry Kennedy, condemned his stance on vaccines, affirming their life-saving importance. The controversy intensified following the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the resignation of several senior CDC officials, actions that have drawn bipartisan criticism including from Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Bill Cassidy. Public health experts and lawmakers also voiced concerns that Kennedy's policies could jeopardize vaccine programs, potentially leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases such as polio, measles, and COVID-19. These developments have sparked a broader debate about leadership, scientific integrity, and public trust within the Department of Health and Human Services under Kennedy's tenure.