Senate Health Committee Plans Hearing on RFK Jr. Amid CDC Turmoil

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has invited Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify before the Senate health committee amid intense scrutiny over Kennedy's management of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The hearing will feature testimony from former CDC director Susan Monarez and former chief medical officer Deborah Houry, who resigned in protest, citing Kennedy's interference with scientific processes, especially concerning vaccine policies. Monarez was fired after refusing Kennedy's demand to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory committee filled with skeptics, raising concerns about undermining public confidence in vaccines. Cassidy, who initially supported Kennedy's appointment, has grown increasingly critical due to the turmoil and allegations of politicization within the CDC, reflecting tensions between Cassidy and Kennedy as well as between Kennedy and President Trump. The hearing underscores a rare moment where Republicans are openly challenging the administration's approach to public health and vaccine policy, highlighting internal conflicts and the potential impact on public trust. Kennedy continues to deny allegations, calling his critics liars, while the political stakes rise for both him and Cassidy amid ongoing debates over vaccine safety and government transparency.