Kennedy defends CDC shakeup and ACIP overhaul before Senate Finance Committee
Why it matters
The clearest public account, under oath, of how far Kennedy has moved to remake the federal vaccine-advisory apparatus, and of the bipartisan resistance he faces.
On September 4, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the administration’s health agenda and recent turmoil at the CDC.
Kennedy defended his removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the replacement of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), describing the actions as necessary to remove conflicts of interest and restore scientific integrity. He reiterated claims linking vaccines to autism and questioned aspects of vaccine safety.
He drew bipartisan criticism over his management of the public-health agencies and his vaccine policy. The exchange is preserved in the committee record.
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