On September 4, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in a hearing on the President’s 2026 Health Care Agenda. Unsurprisingly, many senators from both sides of the aisle focused their questions on the recent chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—including the firing of Director Susan Monarez, PhD, just one month after the Senate confirmed her for the job—and Kennedy’s controversial actions regarding vaccine access and research. Democrats were united in their opposition to Kennedy, with several directly calling for his firing and/or resignation. Republicans, in contrast, were fractured: some, such as Bill Cassidy (LA) and Tom Barrasso (WY)—both medical doctors—sharply criticized Kennedy while others, such as Marsha Blackburn (TN), were very supportive.
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-ID) opened the hearing by emphasizing the importance of patient-centered healthcare reforms and fiscal responsibility. He remarked on the need for “politics-free, evidence-based science in the public interest,” reflecting expectations for transparency and scientific rigor at HHS. His comments were generally supportive of Kennedy’s leadership, and he reiterated Administration talking points about eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse at HHS.
Ranking Member’s Statement
In his opening statement, Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) raised serious concerns over vaccine policy changes, warning that “it will be harder to get vaccines, and kids will die because of it.” Wyden criticized Kennedy for making policy decisions based on conspiracies and questioned the integrity of the newly constituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), noting accusations that Dr. Monarez was told to preapprove recommendations from the committee, which now counts notorious anti-vaccine advocates among its members. Wyden argued this contributed to Dr. Monarez’s departure as head of the CDC, stating she was “not willing to bend the knee.” He also asserted, “It is in the country’s best interest for [Kennedy] to step down.”
In an unusual move, Wyden called on the Chairman to swear in Kennedy under oath, given that he has previously lied to members of the Committee. Administration employees, including Cabinet members, typically are not sworn in to give testimony unless it is for a confirmation or investigative hearing. Crapo rejected this request, which set the stage for a combative hearing in which Kennedy and several senators accused one another of lying and spreading misinformation. Wyden stated that Crapo’s refusal to swear in the witness sent the message that Kennedy could lie to the Committee with impunity.
Secretary Kennedy’s Testimony
Before hearing any questions, Kennedy gave testimony highlighting that over 75 percent of Americans suffer from at least one chronic condition. He stated the U.S. is the sickest country in the world while defending staff changes at the CDC. Kennedy asserted these were “necessary to restore goals to protect Americans from disease,” blamed the previous leadership for poor health outcomes, and called for removing officials with “conflicts of interest and bad political agendas.” Overall, Kennedy claimed that he wants to move the U.S. from a sick-care system to a true healthcare system that emphasizes prevention and promotion, and that his job is to remove politics from science.
Republican Support for Kennedy Shows Cracks
Kennedy faced harsh criticism from Committee Democrats during the three-hour hearing, including a heated exchange with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) about his controversial nominees for ACIP. Democrats were not the only ones to rebuke Kennedy; however, Republican critics were careful to simultaneously praise Trump and his healthcare agenda.
Senator Cassidy, a strong supporter of vaccines, claimed to approach his questioning as a doctor, rather than as a Senator. He believes Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed (OWS)—the public-private partnership initiated by the Trump Administration to facilitate the development, production, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines—and asked if Kennedy agreed with that sentiment. After the Secretary agreed, Cassidy then asked why he litigated against the Covid vaccine, implying that Kennedy himself does not support one of Trump’s crowning achievements. Cassidy also questioned Kennedy’s decision to fire all members of ACIP, entering into the record an evaluation of these individuals’ conflicts of interest that refutes Kennedy’s justification for the dismissals. He next asked whether someone paid to be an expert witness in anti-vaccine cases should serve on ACIP, but Kennedy argued that while that might constitute bias it does not constitute a financial conflict of interest. Cassidy ended his time saying that HHS is effectively denying people vaccines. Notably, several Democrats directly echoed Cassidy concerns later in the hearing, stating they were following his line of questions.
Another Republican physician, Senator Barrasso, also raised concerns about Kennedy’s actions regarding vaccine research and policy, especially in light of promises made during his confirmation hearing. Like Cassidy, he praised Trump and OWS. Barrasso asked Kennedy what steps HHS will take to make sure vaccine guidelines are clear and trustworthy, but the Secretary did not give a clear answer. Barrasso then relayed concerns from his constituents that safe, effective vaccines—including those for measles and Hepatitis B—are at risk. When questioned on the safeguards in place to prevent bias from influencing ACIP recommendations, Kennedy once again did not give a clear response.
Senator Thom Tills (R-NC) also challenged Kennedy on his failure to live up to promises made to do nothing to discourage or hinder Americans from getting vaccines. In particular, Tillis argued that Kennedy had pledged to not impose his vaccine beliefs on HHS agencies, but his actions—especially regarding ACIP—directly contradict this, leading the Senator to question the Secretary’s objectivity on this issue and whether he can keep bias out of the science. Notably, Tillis is not running for re-election and will leave the Senate when his current term ends in 2027, which may explain his willingness to so openly challenge Kennedy.
No Republican senator called for Kennedy’s firing or resignation, but this hearing suggests that he may be on thin ice with some key Committee members who otherwise support the Administration’s Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. After the hearing, Cassidy did not comment on his confidence in Kennedy, but instead said he would “let the exchange today speak for itself,” and signaled that the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee—of which he is chair—might step in to provide additional oversight.
