On 4 September 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee in Washington, D.C., where senators pressed him on recent vaccine policy changes, mass layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the abrupt firing of CDC director Susan Monarez. The session grew heated as Democrats, led by Senator Ron Wyden, accused Kennedy of elevating vaccine sceptics and endangering children, while Kennedy defended his overhaul as necessary to tackle chronic disease and agency failures during the Covid era.
Key Takeaways
- HHS Secretary RFK Jr. faced intense questioning at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on 4 September 2025.
- Senator Ron Wyden accused Kennedy of promoting conspiracy-minded advisers and putting children at risk.
- Kennedy defended mass personnel changes at the CDC, calling them “absolutely necessary” after what he described as the agency’s failures during Covid.
- The CDC has finalized the permanent firing of about 600 employees; its director, Susan Monarez, was removed last week after less than a month in office.
- Monarez wrote an op-ed alleging pressure to compromise science; Kennedy denied meeting her privately and called her account false.
- Democrats sought to have Kennedy sworn in as a witness to compel truthful testimony; the committee chair declined.
Verified Facts
The hearing was held by the Senate Finance Committee on 4 September 2025. Committee members were allotted five minutes each for questions. Republican Chairman Mike Crapo opened the session, and exchanges quickly turned confrontational when Democratic Senator Ron Wyden pressed Kennedy about vaccine policy and personnel decisions.
Since taking office in February, Kennedy has implemented sweeping changes at HHS and the CDC. Reports and committee testimony state that about 600 CDC employees were permanently dismissed as part of layoffs announced in April, and that CDC director Susan Monarez was fired last week after serving fewer than 30 days.
Senator Wyden referenced a Wall Street Journal op‑ed by Monarez alleging she was told to preapprove recommendations from a reconstituted vaccine advisory panel populated with critics of vaccines. Kennedy denied having a private meeting with Monarez and called her account untrue; Monarez’s full response to the allegation was not available at the time of the hearing.
Committee members also discussed actions attributed to Kennedy’s office: the replacement of members on an independent vaccine advisory committee, narrowing of COVID‑19 vaccine recommendations for some groups, and the suspension or redirection of certain vaccine research programs. Multiple independent public health experts and several senior CDC officials resigned in protest following Monarez’s ouster.
Context & Impact
Kennedy campaigned on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) platform, emphasizing chronic disease prevention, dietary changes and reducing what he describes as bureaucratic duplication. He singled out ultra‑processed foods and inactivity as drivers of chronic illness in children and has prioritized shifting agency focus toward those issues.
Public health experts warn these personnel and policy shifts could undermine long-standing immunisation programs and disease surveillance. Critics contend removing experienced career scientists from advisory roles may slow response times and erode public trust in vaccine recommendations.
Practical impacts cited during the hearing include potential changes to who is recommended to receive COVID‑19 vaccines (notably healthy children and pregnant women were mentioned), interruptions to vaccine research, and legal challenges stemming from the mass layoffs.
Near-term effects to watch
- Possible changes to federal vaccine guidance and rollout schedules.
- Ongoing lawsuits related to the April layoffs and potential staffing gaps at the CDC.
- Public confidence in immunisation programs during outbreaks such as the recent measles resurgence.
“The CDC failed miserably during Covid, which is why we need bold, competent new leadership,”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary (hearing testimony)
“He has elevated conspiracy theorists and put children in harm’s way,”
Senator Ron Wyden (Senate Finance Committee)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Kennedy privately instructed Susan Monarez to preapprove recommendations from a newly appointed vaccine advisory panel; Monarez alleges pressure in a published op‑ed, while Kennedy denies a private meeting.
- The long‑term legal and operational effects of the 600 permanent CDC job cuts remain unfolding as lawsuits proceed.
Bottom Line
The Senate hearing underscored deep partisan and professional divisions over the direction of US vaccine policy and public health leadership. Kennedy framed his actions as necessary reforms to tackle chronic disease and agency failures, while opponents warned the moves risk degrading vaccine programs and public trust. Expect continued oversight, litigation, and public-health discussion as agencies adjust to the changes.