Washington, August 30, 2025 — Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly urged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign from his position as health secretary, warning that his leadership poses serious risks to the nation’s health.
Criticism of Kennedy’s Leadership
In an op-ed for The New York Times, Sanders accused Kennedy of endangering Americans’ health and demanded his immediate departure from office. He criticized the Trump administration’s slogan “Make America Healthy Again,” asserting that Kennedy’s policies have undermined scientific authority and weakened public health systems.
Sanders pointed to the recent firing of CDC director Susan Monarez and the resignation of four senior CDC officials who opposed Kennedy’s approach. He condemned Kennedy’s ongoing anti-vaccine rhetoric and promotion of widely discredited theories.
Vaccine Safety and Public Health Risks
The senator highlighted Kennedy’s repeated assertions that vaccines are unsafe and ineffective, noting that some experts he cites have had their medical licenses revoked or studies retracted. Sanders warned that Kennedy has long profited from sowing doubt about vaccines and is now using his HHS authority to spread misinformation and erode trust in public health guidance.
He cautioned that Kennedy’s policies could threaten childhood immunization programs, increasing the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and chickenpox.
Impact on Access to Medical Care
Sanders emphasized that under Kennedy, access to COVID-19 vaccines for children and younger adults has become more difficult, with higher costs and additional bureaucratic hurdles. He warned that continued anti-vaccine messaging could further restrict Americans’ access to essential health services.
Bipartisan and Expert Criticism
Kennedy’s tenure has drawn rare bipartisan scrutiny, particularly following CDC budget reductions and changes in leadership. More than 750 current and former health officials signed a letter denouncing Kennedy as an “existential threat to public health,” accusing him of spreading misinformation and undermining the nation’s health infrastructure.
Tragic Incident Highlights Dangers
The dangers of medical misinformation were underscored by a recent shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, where a gunman influenced by false vaccine claims killed a police officer before committing suicide. The incident has heightened concerns over the real-world consequences of false health information.
Despite widespread criticism from lawmakers, medical experts, and agency employees, Kennedy continues to defend his controversial positions, drawing sharp concern from public health leaders nationwide.
