Kennedy defends CDC shake-up, faces vaccine criticism

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced bipartisan fire in a tense Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday over turmoil at the CDC and his overhaul of vaccine policy.

Democrats accused him of spreading misinformation, while Republicans questioned his mixed stance on COVID-19 vaccines.

Kennedy defended his changes as “necessary adjustments” to restore trust, but senators pressed him on the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez, who resisted his directives.

Lawmakers also raised alarms about his decision to replace the CDC’s vaccine-advisory panel with vaccine skeptics, fearing risks to childhood immunization schedules.

More than 1,000 current and former HHS staff have called for Kennedy’s resignation, citing his actions as dangerous for public health and damaging to CDC morale.