RFK Jr accuses fired CDC director of lying about vaccine pressure
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Accuses Former CDC Director of Lying About Vaccine Recommendations
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During a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing focused on President Donald Trump’s healthcare agenda, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accused his former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of lying about vaccine recommendations.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik )
Kennedy’s allegations stem from the recent turmoil at the CDC following the firing of former CDC Director Susan Monarez and the departure of several senior officials. The controversy surrounding vaccines and Kennedy’s stance on the issue were heavily scrutinized during the hearing.
In a heated exchange with Senator Ron Wyden, Kennedy refuted Monarez’s claim that she was pressured to resign or be fired after refusing to approve vaccine recommendations from a panel with anti-vaccine sentiments.
Committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pictured during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 8, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Wyden pressed Kennedy on whether he instructed Monarez to comply with vaccine recommendations despite scientific evidence contradicting them. Kennedy denied the allegation, stating that he never had a private meeting with Monarez.
Kennedy justified the dismissal of Monarez and the CDC’s vaccine recommendation panel as a move to elevate the agency to the “gold standard” of healthcare. He emphasized the need for new leadership at the CDC to address the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
