RFK Jr. Faces Call to Be Questioned Over CDC Exodus

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is facing a call to be questioned on the heels of the firing of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Susan Monarez on Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to HHS via online form Thursday for comment.

Why It Matters

Monarez’s exit signals an extraordinary rupture between scientific leadership at the CDC and political leadership at HHS during a period of major policy change to vaccine advisory structures and funding.

President Donald Trump nominated RFK Jr. to head the department, which he has since pushed forward under the campaign of Making America Healthy Again.

What To Know

In a statement posted to X on Thursday, Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said in part, “In just six months, Secretary Kennedy has completely upended the process for reviewing and recommending vaccines for the public… He has unilaterally narrowed eligibility for COVID vaccines approved by the FDA, despite an ongoing surge in cases. He has spread misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines during the largest measles outbreak in over 30 years. He continues to spread misinformation about COVID vaccines. Now he is pushing out scientific leaders who refuse to act as a rubber stamp for his dangerous conspiracy theories and manipulate science,” Sanders said.

The senator also asked HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, to initiate a public hearing to “compel” both Secretary Kennedy and Monarez, along with recently resigned CDC officials, to testify about the firing, the statement noted.

The dispute over Monarez’s employment status unfolded on Wednesday evening after HHS posted on social media that Monarez was “no longer director,” while her lawyers stated that she had not resigned and had not received notice of termination.

The White House then announced late Wednesday that it had fired Monarez as the head of the CDC.

The confrontation coincided with the resignations of multiple senior CDC officials.

The three other senior CDC officials who resigned around the same time—Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Daniel Jernigan and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis—cited concerns about the politicization of science and changes in agency direction.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington also called for RFK Jr. to be fired in the aftermath of the news. “I had serious doubts about CDC Director Monarez’s willingness to stand up against RFK Jr.’s personal mission to destroy public health in America—I’m glad that I was wrong. If there are any adults left in the White House: we cannot let RFK Jr. burn what’s left of CDC. FIRE HIM,” the lawmaker said in part on X Wednesday night.

What People Are Saying

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky on X on Thursday: “Good riddance to these extremists at CDC. There is NO medical evidence that the COVID vaccine changes transmission or health outcome for healthy children. Senior CDC officials quit after director ousted by RFK Jr.”

Rapid Response 47 X account on X on Thursday: “The President and @SecKennedy are committed to restoring trust and transparency and credibility to the CDC… We’re going to make sure that folks that are in positions of leadership there are aligned with that mission.”

Daskalakis on X in part on Wednesday: “This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.”

Sanders, in his letter to Cassidy, in part: “Enough is enough. We have got to make it clear to Secretary Kennedy that his actions to double down on his war on science and disinformation campaign must end. Too many lives are at stake. Yesterday, you called for oversight of the firings and resignations at the agency. I agree. As a start, the American people should hear directly from Secretary Kennedy and Dr. Monarez and every member of our committee should be able to ask questions and get honest answers from them. I urge you to call a hearing immediately on these actions.”

Read Sanders’ full letter here.

What Happens Next

The Trump Administration named Jim O’Neill, a top deputy to RFK Jr., as the new acting chief of the CDC after Monarez’s ouster.