US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared the dismissal of CDC director Sue Monarez “absolutely necessary” during a fiery Senate hearing. Democrats strongly criticized Kennedy and urged his resignation, citing his actions to curb vaccines.
Chronic Disease at Crisis Levels
Kennedy said the United States is “the sickest country in the world.” He cited CDC figures showing 76.4 percent of Americans suffer from chronic diseases, compared with 11 percent during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. He argued this crisis justified leadership changes, adding the nation now spends $1.3 trillion annually on chronic illnesses.
CDC Leadership in Turmoil
Monarez’s ouster, along with several resignations and earlier layoffs, has shaken the agency. Kennedy accused the CDC of “disastrous and nonsensical” policies during Covid, including school closures and masking guidance. He called for “bold, competent, and creative leadership” focused on prevention and chronic disease.
Fired Director Pushes Back
Monarez, once endorsed by Kennedy, accused him of weakening the public health system and undermining vaccine protections. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, she said his policies risk dismantling decades of progress. Kennedy told Senator Elizabeth Warren he dismissed Monarez after she admitted she was “not trustworthy.”
Fierce Senate Exchanges
The Senate hearing quickly turned bitter. Senator Ron Wyden accused Kennedy of lying in testimony and demanded his resignation. Kennedy rejected the charges, while Republican chairman Mike Crapo praised his focus on chronic disease. Democratic senators called him a “charlatan,” while Kennedy accused them of “crazy talk.”
Vaccines at the Center of Political Divide
Since taking office, Kennedy has limited Covid vaccines to smaller groups, cut funding for mRNA research, and redirected resources to alternative studies. Vaccines have become a major partisan flashpoint. Florida recently announced it would end all immunization mandates, while California, Washington, and Oregon pledged to create their own vaccine review body to counter Kennedy’s influence.
