WASHINGTON (AP) — In a sweeping reshake of U.S. health agencies, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismantled key institutions, curtailed vaccine access, and promoted controversial health theories—moves that have unsettled public health officials and drawn scrutiny from Capitol Hill. Despite rising alarm, President Donald Trump continues to back his appointee’s aggressive agenda fully.
Chaos at the CDC
The turmoil surfaced most visibly at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where Director Dr. Susan Monarez was abruptly removed in late August amid friction with Kennedy over vaccine policies. Her ouster triggered the resignations of at least three senior CDC officials, including Drs. Debra Houry and Demetre Daskalakis, who publicly decried what they called a dangerous politicization of science.
Dr. Houry—who had served as the CDC’s chief medical officer—expressed grave concern. In her parting remarks, she warned that Kennedy’s inclination to consult anti-vaccine advocacy groups over CDC experts could imperil vulnerable populations.
This institutional upheaval has left the CDC without stable leadership, raising questions about its capacity to respond to health crises.
Vaccines, Advisory Panels, and Fragmented Public Health
Earlier this year, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—the panel responsible for shaping national immunization guidelines—in an abrupt move critics denounced as politically motivated and harmful to scientific integrity. Former public health officials cautioned the change could disrupt long-standing public health safeguards.
At the same time, the Administration for a Healthy America—part of a broader restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—is underway, aiming to slim down staff and centralize authority under Kennedy’s leadership. The plan has prompted strong backlash from public health experts and unions citing risks to outbreak preparedness and fundamental agency functions.
Trump’s Political Bet
Despite mounting criticism, President Trump has remained steadfast in his support. The Washington Post reports Trump praised Kennedy publicly, saying, “I have a Kennedy,” referring to his health secretary, whom, according to sources, he has allowed to “go wild” on health care policy. Stephen Miller, a senior White House adviser, called Kennedy “a crown jewel of this administration,” praising his efforts to tackle what Trump’s team frames as America’s chronic health crisis.
Credibility at Stake
Public health organizations and independent authorities continue to voice alarm. Biotech and medical communities are raising alarms over diminishing trust in vaccines, which pose heightened risks amid waning immunization confidence. The ACIP and CDC have long underpinned national guidelines with rigorous, evidence-backed policy—elements now under threat.
Looking Ahead
The standoff between science and politics at HHS signals a pivotal shift in U.S. health governance. As the U.S. braces for seasonal influenza and other infectious diseases, the absence of trusted leadership and breakdown in long-standing advisory mechanisms heralds uncertainty—not just in policy, but in Americans’ confidence in public health.