In a recent op-ed published in The New York Times, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has publicly pressured Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign amidst turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This upheaval followed the ousting of CDC Director Susan Monarez, leading to the resignation of four other top officials, raising serious concerns about the agency’s direction and effectiveness.
Sanders, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, expressed his agreement with President Trump and Kennedy on the goal of making the public “healthy again.” However, he warned that since taking office, both the President and Secretary Kennedy have done the opposite. “Despite the overwhelming opposition of the medical community, Secretary Kennedy has continued his longstanding crusade against vaccines and his advocacy of conspiracy theories that have been rejected repeatedly by scientific experts,” wrote Sanders.
The Vermont senator emphasized, “It is absurd to have to say this in 2025, but vaccines are safe and effective. That, of course, is not just my view; it is the overwhelming consensus of the medical and scientific communities.” His remarks highlight a growing divide between the scientific community and HHS leadership under Kennedy.
Sanders' call for Kennedy's resignation follows the firing of CDC Director Monarez, which has shaken the public health community and elicited mixed reactions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Sanders criticized the administration's actions as “reckless” and “dangerous,” arguing for a bipartisan investigation into Monarez’s ouster.
In defense of the decision, Kennedy and the White House have stated that the President has the authority to dismiss officials who do not align with his mission. During a briefing, Press Secretary Leavitt asserted that the administration is committed to restoring trust and transparency at the CDC, aiming to strengthen public health systems and protect Americans from communicable diseases.
Sanders expressed deep concerns regarding the implications of Kennedy’s leadership, suggesting that it will become increasingly difficult for Americans to access lifesaving vaccines. He warned that the former presidential candidate’s ongoing skepticism towards vaccines could undermine the childhood immunization schedule, leading to the resurgence of diseases that have been largely eradicated due to vaccination efforts.
“The danger here is that diseases that have been virtually wiped out because of safe and effective vaccines will resurface and cause enormous harm,” Sanders stated. He further criticized Kennedy for ending $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development, arguing that such decisions put Americans’ lives at risk.
In conclusion, Sanders urged that Secretary Kennedy must resign, asserting that in his place, President Trump should nominate a health secretary and a CDC director who will prioritize the health and well-being of the American people. “Secretary Kennedy is putting Americans’ lives in danger, and he must resign,” Sanders concluded, reinforcing the need for leadership that is rooted in science and public health rather than conspiracy theories.
