HHS Secretary Kennedy appears before Senate in hearing
News | By Easton Martin | September 4, 2025
On September 4, 2025, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for a heated hearing centered on his controversial management of vaccine policy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Lawmakers pressed Kennedy on a recent overhaul that limited COVID-19 vaccine access to high-risk groups and led to the dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez and several senior officials. Kennedy defended his actions as necessary to restore trust in public health institutions and justified them by citing perceived failures in the agency’s pandemic response.
Democratic senators expressed alarm over the implications of Kennedy’s moves, warning of increased risks for vaccine-preventable diseases and accusing him of undermining scientific integrity. FCC leadership changes and shifts in advisory committees raised particular concern among public health experts.
Kennedy pushed back, arguing that the reforms were essential in response to disarray within the CDC. He also reiterated his support for vaccine access, disputing claims that his policies amounted to a de facto denial.
The hearing demonstrated stark partisan divides with Democrats demanding greater accountability and Republicans showing cautious support amid growing unrest within the department and a staff petition calling for his resignation.
