Overview

• At least six Republican figures, including Sens. John Barrasso, Bill Cassidy and John Thune, publicly criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine stance and management decisions following his Senate Finance Committee testimony.
• Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee declared Kennedy unfit to serve after the hearing, citing risks to public health.
• The CDC dismissed roughly 600 employees in August and former Director Susan Monarez was removed, with Kennedy’s deputy Jim O’Neill installed as acting leader.
• Kennedy canceled about $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding and revoked COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women, prompting a lawsuit from six medical organizations.
• More than 1,000 current and former HHS employees urged Kennedy to resign in an open letter, even as Trump and GOP senators Roger Marshall, Rand Paul and Ron Johnson voiced support.