Senate Questions HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Amid CDC Leadership Turmoil

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny during a Senate hearing concerning his handling of vaccines and leadership shakeups at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 1,000 current and former HHS staffers, along with nine former and acting CDC directors, have publicly called for his resignation, accusing him of endangering public health and spreading vaccine misinformation. Kennedy defended his decisions, including firing CDC Director Susan Monarez, whom he labeled untrustworthy, and insisted that coronavirus vaccines remain accessible despite recent restrictions. Senators, including Republican Bill Cassidy, criticized Kennedy for contradicting President Trump's praised Operation Warp Speed and for effectively limiting vaccine access, while Democrats aggressively challenged his statements and leadership approach. The hearing highlighted deep partisan divisions about vaccine policy and the politicization of public health, with some accusing Kennedy of fostering skepticism and misinformation. Meanwhile, Kennedy's supporters framed the opposition as politically motivated and resistant to questioning established science.