Over 1,000 HHS Workers Demand Resignation of Vaccine Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Strategic Insights -

As the nation's top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been at the center of controversy within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for his suspected views on vaccines. Now, a group of over 1,000 current and former HHS workers have signed a letter urging Kennedy to resign, citing his appointments of vaccine skeptics, attempts to overhaul national vaccine policy, and the firing or resignation of numerous experts, including Susan Monarez, the former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Key Takeaways:

  • The letter, signed by over 1,000 current and former HHS workers, demands Robert F. Kennedy's resignation as head of the agency, citing his controversies and concerns over his leadership.
  • The concerns include his appointments of vaccine skeptics and COVID-19 conspiracy theorists to top positions, attempts to overhaul national vaccine policy, and the firing or resignation of numerous experts, including Susan Monarez, the former head of the CDC.
  • The letter also highlights the President's and U.S. Congress' responsibility to appoint a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science.
  • Kennedy's appointment of several vaccine skeptics and COVID-19 conspiracy theorists to top positions has been met with criticism, with some accusing him of "spreading inaccurate health information" and "sowing public mistrust" in the CDC.
  • The letter also mentions Kennedy's claim that "trusting experts is not a feature of either science or democracy," which the signers deem as a threat to the nation's health.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,000 current and former HHS workers have signed the letter demanding Robert F. Kennedy's resignation.
  • Since his appointment, Kennedy has said that the CDC has been "broken for a long time" and aims to "check his assumptions at the door."
  • According to a report by The New York Times, nine former CDC directors have condemned Kennedy's firing of Monarez, describing her ousting as "unlike anything we had ever seen at the agency and unlike anything our country had ever experienced."
  • The letter also mentions the importance of ensuring the safety of the HHS workforce, which has been met with criticism under Kennedy's leadership.

Sources:

  • "Enough is Enough." Enough is Enough, 2025, .
  • Nixon, Andrew. "HHS Spokesman on Fired CDC Chief Monarez: 'Let's Be Clear... This Isn't About People, It's About Policy'." The Daily Beast, 2025, .
  • "Nine Former CDC Directors Condemn Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Op-Ed." The New York Times, 2025, .
  • "Trump Admits His Administration Is Being Ripped Apart by Vaccine Fight." The Daily Beast, 2025, .