Former CDC Directors Issue Dire Warning: RFK Jr.’s HHS Policies Jeopardize U.S. Public Health
Former CDC Directors Issue Dire Warning: RFK Jr.’s HHS Policies Jeopardize U.S. Public Health
Nine former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a stark warning, accusing Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of endangering the health of Americans. In a blistering op-ed published Monday in The New York Times, the bipartisan group – whose tenures span from the Carter to Trump administrations – voiced alarm over recent actions under Kennedy’s leadership.
The immediate catalyst for their public outcry was the recent ousting of CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez. Sources reveal Monarez’s removal followed her refusal to support changes to COVID vaccine policy and the firing of high-level staff, demands reportedly made by Kennedy and his principal deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Spear.
The former directors cited a pattern of decisions they believe threaten America’s health security. These include the dismissal of thousands of federal health workers, Kennedy’s promotion of unproven treatments amid a measles resurgence, and the cancellation of $500 million in federally funded mRNA vaccine research. Furthermore, they pointed to Kennedy’s controversial move to replace all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee with hand-selected individuals, many known for their vaccine-skeptic views.
Dr. Richard Besser, a co-author of the op-ed and former acting CDC director, emphasized the unprecedented nature of these events. “What we’re seeing under the leadership of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy [Jr.] is something different altogether,” Besser told ABC News, adding that Kennedy’s agenda is “centered on dismantling our vaccine system in America and limiting people’s access to these life-saving, health-preserving interventions.”
The collective urged Congress to exercise its oversight authority over HHS and called on state and local governments to address funding shortfalls created by Kennedy’s policies. They stressed that the U.S. is left vulnerable to both everyday health challenges and future pandemics, with the CDC, once a global leader, now on “life support.”
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.