WATCH: Baldwin Questions Ousted CDC Officials on RFK, Jr. Ignoring Science and Endangering Americans’ Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) questioned two former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials who were fired or resigned after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. asked them to ignore science and preapprove vaccine recommendations without evidence. Senator Baldwin, in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, pressed the former CDC officials about RFK, Jr. censoring them, the Secretary's repeated attempts to interfere with CDC's evidence-based recommendations, and the impact on the health of Americans.

Former Director of the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez, was fired by Secretary Kennedy last month after refusing to terminate scientists without cause and accept vaccine recommendations without evidence. Former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Debra Houry, resigned shortly thereafter with related concerns.

During the HELP hearing, Dr. Monarez revealed that she reached out to the Chair of the HELP Committee to share concerns following Secretary Kennedy's demands to preapprove vaccine recommendations without reviewing scientific evidence. She recounted how once Secretary Kennedy became aware of her actions, he instructed her to never speak to Senators again.

Senator Baldwin has continued to hold Secretary Kennedy's feet to the fire for putting Americans' health at risk, including his firing of the CDC's entire Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Surveillance Branch and not providing on-the-ground support to keep children safe. In Milwaukee, lead exposure shuttered six Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and displaced 1,800 children.

A full recording of Senator Baldwin's questions is available here.

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