Nine former directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a dire warning regarding the actions of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claiming that his policies are jeopardizing the health of Americans. The group, which includes seven former directors and two acting directors, published an op-ed in The New York Times on Monday, shortly after the controversial dismissal of the CDC's new director, Dr. Susan Monarez.
According to sources who spoke with ABC News, Secretary Kennedy and his principal deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Spear, pressured Monarez to endorse significant changes to COVID vaccine policy and to facilitate the termination of high-level staff members—requests that Monarez reportedly refused to support. The former directors argue that Monarez's ousting represents a troubling trend of actions that could profoundly affect America's health security.
Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC during President Barack Obama's administration, expressed shock at the current state of affairs. He stated, "What we are witnessing in the Department of Health and Human Services, especially at the CDC, is not business as usual. While policy changes are expected with new administrations, the approach taken by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unprecedented."
Besser continued, emphasizing that Kennedy's agenda appears focused on dismantling the existing vaccine framework in America, thereby limiting access to essential health interventions. Neither HHS nor the White House has responded to requests for comments from ABC News regarding these concerns.
The op-ed highlighted several controversial decisions made by Kennedy, including the termination of thousands of federal health workers, promoting unproven treatments amid a measles outbreak in the U.S., and canceling $500 million in federally funded mRNA vaccine research. Furthermore, the directors criticized Kennedy's decision to replace all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee with individuals who hold vaccine-skeptic views, further eroding public trust in health recommendations.
Besser remarked that Monarez's removal, along with the resignations of several top leaders, has heightened vulnerabilities in the U.S. health system. "We cannot predict when the next pandemic will occur, but we know it will happen," he stated. "With the current leadership at HHS, we are all at risk of facing serious health challenges."
The former directors assert that while they may not agree on all issues, they are united in their belief that the federal public health system is in significant jeopardy. They described the CDC, once regarded as a premier global public health institution, as being on "life support" and in urgent need of attention.
The op-ed urged Congress to conduct oversight of HHS, leveraging its authority to ensure accountability. This call aligns with comments made by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who suggested that the recent departures of CDC leaders necessitate increased scrutiny from the Senate committee he chairs.
Moreover, the former directors urged state and local governments to address funding shortfalls resulting from Kennedy's policies. Besser concluded, "We represent individuals who have served under every administration from Jimmy Carter to Donald Trump, across the political spectrum. We are unified in our alarm at the current developments and are calling on Congress to fulfill its oversight responsibilities."
As these influential voices come together to advocate for stronger public health measures, the future of America’s health security hangs in the balance, prompting a crucial dialogue about the direction of health policies under Secretary Kennedy's leadership.
