Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday to defend his recent overhaul of leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and his decisions regarding federal vaccine policy. RFK Jr. faced questions on his record in office, the Trump administration’s policies on vaccines and the recent ouster of top officials at the CDC.

Susan Monarez, who had been appointed CDC director less than a month earlier, was removed from her role in August after declining to resign when asked by the White House. Her departure followed the resignations of four additional senior CDC officials who reportedly opposed Kennedy’s approach to vaccines. In another sweeping move, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, replacing many with individuals skeptical of vaccines. He said these steps were necessary to restore credibility to the agency.

Kennedy defended the CDC shake-up throughout the hearing, saying changes at the health agency were “absolutely necessary” because of how it performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also denied pressuring the former director to pre-approve upcoming vaccine recommendations from a panel whose members he replaced, and accused her of lying about why she was fired. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pressed Kennedy on the issue. “So she’s lying to the American people in The Wall Street Journal?” Wyden asked.  Kennedy replied, “Yes, sir.”

Kennedy told lawmakers that “the CDC failed Americans during COVID-19. The officials who pushed for school closures and forced masks on children are the ones who will no longer be making those decisions. These were essential changes to return the CDC to its mission of protecting people from infectious diseases.”

Senators also challenged Kennedy on his stance toward mRNA vaccines, his understanding of COVID-19 death tolls, and concerns about Medicaid funding losses throughout the hearing.  Sen. Wyden sharply criticized Kennedy’s testimony, accusing him of undermining public health. “Every day there’s a new decision that puts American families at risk,” Wyden said. “Robert Kennedy has elevated conspiracy theorists and grifters to positions where they’re making life-or-death calls about people’s healthcare. He has no business anywhere near this job.”

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