Overview

• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended ousting CDC director Susan Monarez and cutting staff, arguing the agency needs new leadership after what he called a disastrous COVID-19 response.
• Democratic senators accused Kennedy of lying under oath about following science and preserving vaccine access, which he denied, as Sen. Ron Wyden urged him to resign or be dismissed by President Donald Trump.
• More than 1,000 current and former HHS employees issued an open letter calling for Kennedy’s resignation and alleging his actions put the public at risk.
• Monarez, through her lawyers, says she was forced out for refusing to approve directives she called non‑scientific and dangerous; Kennedy disputed that account and told senators she admitted she was not trustworthy.
• Since taking office, Kennedy has dismissed vaccine experts, restricted COVID-19 vaccine access, and cut funds for new vaccine development, while Florida moves to drop vaccine mandates and Democratic Western states led by California plan a joint response.