— At a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended recent personnel moves and new Covid vaccine guidance; President Donald Trump publicly praised Kennedy’s performance even as several Republican senators expressed concern about his leadership.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump said he “heard” Kennedy did well at the Sept. 4 hearing and praised his different approach to health policy.
- Kennedy defended his abrupt firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and limits on next Covid-shot eligibility.
- Several Senate Republicans, including John Barrasso, Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis, voiced alarm or questioned Kennedy’s decisions.
- The White House framed the hearing as proof of Kennedy’s mandate to reshape public health operations.
- Resignations and internal turmoil followed the CDC director’s ouster, adding to uncertainty around HHS direction.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 4, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified for roughly three hours before the Senate Finance Committee, answering questions about his recent dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez and new restrictions on who should receive the next round of Covid vaccine boosters.
The firing of Monarez, announced publicly by Kennedy on social media last week, prompted immediate pushback: Monarez disputed the removal and several senior CDC officials resigned in protest. Those departures included Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and Dr. Daniel Jernigan, according to reporting on Aug. 28 and subsequent coverage of the fallout.
Several Republican senators said they were troubled by Kennedy’s actions. Sen. John Barrasso said he was “deeply concerned” about Kennedy’s stance on vaccines, while Sens. Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis pressed Kennedy on his judgment during the hearing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune declined to state whether he still backed Kennedy.
The same week the CDC director was removed, the FDA narrowed its recommendation for who should receive the upcoming Covid vaccine — a move that led to confusion about access and messaging. The White House has supported both Kennedy’s personnel changes and the new vaccine guidance.
Within the White House orbit, aides and allies defended Kennedy’s combative testimony as a necessary show of resolve. Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized senators who pressed Kennedy, and outside allies described the hearing as evidence Kennedy remains close to the president.
Context & Impact
Kennedy’s tenure has been marked by rapid personnel shifts and policy reversals that depart from decades of public health practice. His critics argue these moves risk undermining routine immunization programs and public trust in federal health agencies.
Supporters counter that Kennedy’s changes aim to overhaul a system they say failed to protect Americans adequately. White House messaging framed the hearing as proof that Kennedy is executing a mandate to “fix” federal public health structures.
Possible consequences include increased friction with Senate Republicans during confirmation processes for future HHS nominees and sustained confusion among clinicians and the public about vaccine eligibility. Allies have circulated internal polling suggesting Kennedy remains one of the more popular Cabinet figures among the Trump coalition, though that polling also shows notable unfavorable ratings.
“This hearing shows exactly why President Trump put Secretary Kennedy in charge of HHS: to fix this broken system that has overseen America’s unprecedented disease crisis.”
White House statement
Unconfirmed
- Claims that Senate Republicans will formally block or stall all future HHS nominees remain unproven as of this report.
- Internal polling circulated by Kennedy allies showing his relative popularity within the Trump coalition has not been publicly released for independent verification.
Bottom Line
Thursday’s hearing underscored a growing split: the White House and Trump’s inner circle remain publicly supportive of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while a notable cohort of Senate Republicans is uneasy about his rapid changes at HHS and his approach to Covid vaccines. The coming weeks will test whether Kennedy can translate his combative defense into sustained institutional support or whether policy confusion prompts deeper pushback in Congress.