RFK Jr. Faces Senate Grilling Over Vaccine Policy and CDC Shake-Up

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee today, September 4, 2025, amid intense scrutiny of his vaccine policies and the recent ouster of the CDC director.

Kennedy opened with an overview of the Biden administration’s 2026 health care agenda, but lawmakers quickly shifted focus to his handling of vaccine recommendations and the abrupt firing of Susan Monarez as CDC director last week. Four senior CDC officials resigned in protest following Monarez’s dismissal, which Kennedy defended as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative aimed at reducing bureaucratic inertia and conflicts of interest at public health agencies.

Republicans, led by Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, questioned Kennedy on his narrowing of FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines-now limited to those 65 and older or younger individuals with high-risk conditions-and whether insurance coverage would follow these changes. Senator Bill Cassidy emphasized the need for oversight after Kennedy replaced all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel with appointees known for skepticism toward mRNA vaccines.

Democrats and a group of six House doctors delivered a letter calling for Kennedy’s resignation, arguing his actions “have repeatedly contradicted” his confirmation assurances to follow “gold-standard science” on vaccines. Senator Ron Wyden, the committee’s ranking Democrat, echoed those concerns, questioning whether Kennedy has honored his written commitment not to impede vaccine access.

During the hearing, Kennedy also faced questions about a government-wide autism research initiative he pledged would identify interventions “almost certainly causing autism” by September-a claim deemed “discredited” by public health experts and which contributed to the CDC turmoil. Kennedy insisted the effort would restore trust through transparency and integrity, despite advocates’ warnings that it risked reviving unfounded vaccine-autism links.

As the four-hour hearing concluded, Kennedy reaffirmed his commitment to overhaul HHS, citing successes in workforce reductions and procedural reforms. Senators plan follow-up hearings to assess the impact of his changes on public health infrastructure and vaccine uptake across the country.