September 4, 2025 — Washington, D.C.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced hours of pointed questioning Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee session. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed him on vaccine access, upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and his long history of controversial comments on public health.
Tense Opening Exchanges
The session began with sharp criticism. Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) rebuked Kennedy’s remarks on vaccine safety, warning that they endangered public trust. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) went further, insisting Kennedy resign, arguing his leadership posed “a serious threat to the health of Americans.”
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician, echoed many of the concerns. He accused Kennedy of restricting vaccine availability despite Kennedy’s earlier support for Operation Warp Speed. Cassidy pushed him on the inconsistency, claiming current policies weakened the nation’s readiness for future outbreaks.
Fallout at the CDC
Much of the spotlight turned to the leadership shake-up at the CDC. Kennedy dismissed Director Susan Monarez and saw other senior figures step down. He defended the moves as necessary to rebuild public confidence after years of institutional missteps.
Democrats disagreed. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) charged that Kennedy’s decisions had destabilized the agency at a time when strong leadership was essential.
Renewed Vaccine Controversy
Kennedy did not shy away from repeating doubts about vaccine safety, even as he admitted immunizations had prevented “a number of deaths.” At one point, he raised concerns about mRNA COVID-19 shots and sudden deaths among healthy young people. Medical experts quickly refuted the claim, with fact-checkers reminding the public that no credible studies support such a connection.
Divided Response and Lingering Questions
While Democrats lined up to denounce Kennedy’s record, Republican responses were mixed, with some reluctant to demand his ouster. The bipartisan criticism, however, underscored the unusual position Kennedy holds within President Trump’s cabinet.
The hearing wrapped up without clear answers, though lawmakers signaled more scrutiny ahead. As the chamber emptied, the unresolved question was whether Kennedy could continue guiding the nation’s health system amid skepticism from both Congress and the medical community.
