Democratic Doctors Caucus Calls on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Resign Over Undermining of CDC and Vaccine Science

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) sent a letterto Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding his resignation in light of repeated actions that have undermined evidence-based public health guidance and jeopardized the health and safety of the American people. Dexter joined every member of the Democratic Doctors Caucus, comprised of Ami Bera (CA-06), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Kelly Morrison (MI-03), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), and Kim Schrier (WA-08).

"During your confirmation hearings, you pledged to follow the science on vaccines," the Members wrote. "Yet in the months since, your actions have repeatedly contradicted that pledge despite opposition from the scientific and medical community. The culmination of this reckless behavior was last week's firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez for defending evidence-based vaccine standards. These decisions threaten American lives and public trust."

The ousting of Director Monarez is part of a troubling pattern of leadership at HHS. Following her termination, four top CDC officials resigned, including the Chief Medical Officer; the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; the director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and the director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology. These departures represent an irreplaceable loss of expertise and experience and further erode public confidence in the CDC.

The Members of Congress note that Secretary Kennedy never requested briefings from the directors of NCIRD or NCEZID before implementing major vaccine policy changes. According to these leaders, the CDC is being used to create policies unsupported by current science and without input from subject matter experts. "Leaders of these critical offices cannot -- and should not -- be expected to carry out an agenda at the expense of the health and safety of the American people," the letter states.

Earlier this year, Secretary Kennedy also fired every member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with vaccine skeptics without reviewing conflicts of interest or credentials. This move undermines a trusted, historically independent body and threatens decades of validated public health guidance, including the childhood immunization schedule and the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns.

Despite claims that trust in the CDC is being restored, the Democratic Doctors Caucus asserts that Secretary Kennedy's actions have directly undermined the agency's mission, from cutting funding for mRNA vaccine development to issuing guidance not grounded in scientific data or expert input.

"As physicians and Members of Congress, we are deeply concerned that your tenure at HHS undermines the core mission of the Department: to protect and promote the health of the American people," the letter concludes. "Your actions have eroded public trust and actively endangered lives. We demand your resignation to safeguard the health and safety of our communities."

To view the full letter, click here.

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