Senate Democrats have launched an investigation into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s abrupt dismissal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory panel, raising alarm over what they call a dangerous assault on public health and scientific consensus. The probe, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), follows Kennedy’s controversial decision to remove all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replace them with individuals who critics say are advancing an anti-vaccine agenda.
The ACIP, a nonpartisan panel that has advised the CDC for over six decades, plays a critical role in shaping the national immunization schedule. Its recommendations directly influence access to vaccines across the United States, particularly for children and low-income populations. On June 9, Kennedy fired the entire committee and appointed eight new members, several of whom have promoted vaccine misinformation, held ties to anti-vaccine organizations, or lack relevant public health expertise.
Among the appointees is Lyn Redwood, the former director of an anti-vaccine group that later became Kennedy’s Children’s Health Defense. Redwood now holds a position at the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office and led a presentation at the first meeting of the newly constituted ACIP. Other new members include a business professor who spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, a nurse with past leadership in anti-vaccine advocacy, and researchers who were paid to testify in court against vaccine makers.
Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), issued a statement on Tuesday sharply condemning Kennedy’s actions. “Secretary Kennedy has spread lies about safe and effective vaccines for decades,” Sanders said. “Unfortunately, since he was confirmed, Secretary Kennedy has doubled down on his disinformation campaign and war on science. This will lead to preventable illness and death.”
The investigation was launched by Democratic members of the HELP Committee after Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), a physician who had supported Kennedy’s confirmation, declined Sanders’ request for a bipartisan inquiry. In a letter reviewed by Reuters, the Democrats warned that “the harm your actions will cause is significant.”
“As your new ACIP makes recommendations based on pseudoscience, fewer and fewer Americans will have access to fewer and fewer vaccines,” the senators wrote.
The Democratic senators—Sanders, Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Andy Kim (D-New Jersey), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland)—are requesting extensive documentation from Kennedy. Their letter demands a full account of the firings, including the names of individuals inside and outside the government who were involved, the role played by Redwood, and the criteria used to select the new committee members.
The senators also called for documentation of alleged conflicts of interest among the ousted members, which Kennedy cited as his rationale for the firings. However, he has yet to provide any specific evidence to support those claims. “Kennedy said at the time that he fired the committee because it was rife with conflicts, but provided no specific evidence of conflicts among any departing members,” Reuters reported.
They further asked for all communications related to Redwood’s presentation and who authorized the meeting agenda. “They asked for all communications and documents on the appointment of the new members, including selection criteria, the vetting process, and proof they complied with government ethics requirements,” the report added.
Kennedy’s move comes amid the worst outbreak of measles in 33 years, a public health emergency centered in Texas communities with low vaccination rates. Despite the rising threat, Kennedy has described the choice to vaccinate as a “personal one” and has promoted unproven remedies such as cod liver oil. Medical experts have criticized Kennedy’s reliance on outdated and disproven theories, comparing his approach to “miasma theory,” which predates the discovery of germs.
During his January confirmation hearing, Kennedy pledged to “maintain” the CDC’s vaccine committee “without changes.” That pledge, according to Cassidy, was pivotal in his decision to support Kennedy’s nomination. In a February 4 speech on the Senate floor, Cassidy reaffirmed his own views on vaccine safety: “Vaccines are safe,” “save lives,” and “do not cause autism.”
Nevertheless, Cassidy has since expressed concern over the abrupt reconfiguration of the vaccine committee. In a post on X in June, he warned, “Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.” Cassidy’s office has not responded to inquiries about the investigation or his current stance on Kennedy’s actions.
The Senate confirmed Kennedy as health secretary by a 52-48 party-line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor. The vote came amid intense pressure from former President Donald Trump, who advocated for Kennedy’s confirmation alongside other controversial appointees, including former TV personality Mehmet Oz as Medicare czar. Watchdog organizations have warned that Trump’s cabinet picks are contributing to the destabilization of an already strained U.S. health system.
While the Democrats’ investigation carries no formal subpoena power without support from the full HELP Committee, the senators hope their inquiry will shed light on the internal processes behind Kennedy’s radical overhaul of federal vaccine policy. They argue that Kennedy’s decisions could have deadly consequences.
“Millions more lives are at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases if you continue to undermine vaccine access through ACIP,” the senators wrote.
Despite their efforts, the investigation’s impact may be limited if Kennedy refuses to cooperate. Senate Republicans, constrained by party loyalty and Trump’s influence, have so far declined to support any formal accountability measures. For now, Democrats are relying on public scrutiny and documentation requests to raise awareness about the unfolding crisis.
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