Robert Kennedy grilled over vaccine scepticism in fiery US Senate hearing
Trump officials defend health secretary after sharp questioning from Republican and Democratic lawmakers
Senators grilled US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr in a contentious hearing in Washington on Thursday that piled pressure on Donald Trump’s appointee over his vaccine scepticism.
In a combative three-hour back-and-forth with the Senate finance committee, Kennedy defended last week’s firing of the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Susan Monarez, as well as his approach to shaping vaccine policy.
Kennedy faced sharp questioning from three Republican senators, as well as Democratic lawmakers, in a signal of growing discontent within the president’s party over his pick for health secretary.
Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor, sparred with Kennedy over access to Covid-19 vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration last week approved a new round of such vaccines, but set new limits on who can get the jabs.
“I would say, effectively, we are denying people vaccine,” Cassidy told Kennedy.
“You’re wrong,” Kennedy shot back.
Cassidy also expressed concerns about Kennedy’s nominees for the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, which makes recommendations about vaccine dosages for Americans and the age they should be administered.
Cassidy noted many of Kennedy’s picks had been paid for serving as expert witnesses for plaintiff’s attorneys suing vaccine makers.
“If we put people who are paid witnesses for people suing vaccines that actually seems like a conflict of interest,” Cassidy said. “Do you agree with that?”
Kennedy replied that the individuals might be biased in their opinions, but “it is not a financial conflict of interest”.
John Barrasso, the Republican senator from Wyoming and the number-two ranking Republican in the Senate leadership, also vented frustration with Kennedy.
“In your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines,” said Barrasso, who is also a trained physician. “Since then, I’ve grown deeply concerned.”
Barrasso said vaccines for measles and hepatitis B “could be in jeopardy” under Kennedy’s leadership, adding: “That would put Americans at risk and reverse decades of progress.”
Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina pushed Kennedy to explain why he fired Monarez.
Earlier on Thursday, Monarez alleged she was pressed to preapprove certain recommendations from the vaccine advisory panel, which is filled with Kennedy’s allies. Earlier this year, the health secretary fired the entire committee.
While opinion polls show declining levels of public trust in health agencies and institutions, surveys find the vast majority of Americans believe the benefits of vaccines outweigh any risks.
Nevertheless, vaccine scepticism has surged in recent years. On Wednesday, Florida’s surgeon-general Joseph Ladapo and Republican governor Ron DeSantis set out plans to become the first state to end all vaccine mandates, including requirements for children attending school.
The White House has consistently defended Kennedy, who has pushed a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda that has targeted not only pharmaceutical companies but also the food and drinks industries.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X on Thursday that the health secretary was “taking flak because he’s over the target”.
“The Trump administration is addressing root causes of chronic disease, embracing transparency in government and championing gold-standard science,” Leavitt said. “Only the Democrats could attack that common sense effort.”
Vice-president JD Vance also defended Kennedy after Thursday’s hearing, attacking the senators who criticised him.
“When I see all these senators trying to lecture and ‘gotcha’ Bobby Kennedy today all I can think is: You all support off-label, untested, and irreversible hormonal ‘therapies’ for children, mutilating our kids and enriching big pharma,” Vance wrote, in a reference to Democratic lawmakers’ support for gender-affirming care for transgender minors.
“You’re full of shit and everyone knows it,” the vice-president added.