Senators grill RFK Jr. over chaos at CDC: Takeaways from the hearing

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday defended his tenure in a Senate hearing, following upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and frustration with his approach to vaccines.

In his opening statement before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy touted “the busiest, most proactive administration in HHS history.” He cited the agency’s moves on pushing companies to eliminate artificial food dyes, addressing drug prices and fighting fraud in health care, among other moves. He defended the leadership turmoil at the CDC and how he has revisited vaccine policies.

Here are takeaways from Kennedy’s testimony.

Kennedy doubled down on CDC upheaval

Kennedy’s testimony unfolded more than a week after the White House fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, prompting three senior officials to resign in protest and roiling the agency tasked with protecting the nation’s public health.

In his opening statement, Kennedy said, “These changes were absolutely necessary adjustments to restore the agency to its role as the world’s gold standard public health agency.” He repeated his long-standing criticism that the agency “failed miserably” during the covid pandemic and pushed “nonsensical policies” that were not rooted in science and that destroyed small businesses, violated civil liberties, closed schools and caused generational damage to children.

During the hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) pressed Kennedy on Monarez, the ousted director who had just been confirmed in July.

In an op-ed published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal, Monarez wrote that she was pressured to fire senior staff and “preapprove the recommendations of a vaccine advisory panel newly filled with people who have publicly expressed antivaccine rhetoric.” The panel meets Sept. 18 and 19, and “it is imperative that the panel’s recommendations aren’t rubber-stamped,” Monarez wrote.

Kennedy disputed her account. “So she’s lying today to the American people in the Wall Street Journal?” Wyden asked.

“Yes, sir,” Kennedy replied.

Kennedy has purged the entire membership of an influential vaccine advisory panel and replaced the experts with his picks, most of whom have criticized coronavirus vaccine policy. Those new vaccine advisers announced plans to review the cumulative health effects of the entire childhood vaccination schedule, which recommends when and how many shots children receive.

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Kennedy ripped coronavirus vaccines, again

Kennedy kept up his criticism of coronavirus vaccines, despite the fact that they were developed during the first Trump administration.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration narrowed approval of updated coronavirus vaccines to high-risk groups. Kennedy - who once falsely called the coronavirus vaccine the “deadliest vaccine ever made” - has said the shots will be available “for all patients who choose them” after consultation with their doctor. But physicians and major medical associations say the reality on the ground is far more complicated.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) accused Kennedy’s health department of “effectively” denying Americans the coronavirus vaccine, citing confusion among patients and doctors over who can get the vaccine.

Cassidy read aloud examples of those who are either confused about the vaccine or have been unable to get one at a pharmacy, including conservative commentator Erick Erickson’s wife, who has Stage 4 lung cancer.

“I would say, effectively, we’re denying people vaccines,” said Cassidy, who is a doctor.

“You’re wrong,” Kennedy responded.

Public health experts have raised alarms over such moves by Kennedy. Professional medical societies, pharmacists and state health officials have mobilized behind the scenes to attempt to preserve access to vaccines. HHS has criticized the effort as “less about integrity and more about salvaging the credibility of a public health bureaucracy that failed millions during the covid-19 pandemic.”

Kennedy has defended his efforts, saying that his health department is ensuring that “unbiased science” guides the health agencies recommendations on vaccines.