US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on September 4, 2025, where he defended his controversial vaccine policies and leadership changes at health agencies against bipartisan criticism. The three-hour hearing featured heated exchanges, with Democrats accusing him of dishonesty and restricting vaccine access, while some Republicans raised concerns about his decisions.
Since taking office in February, Kennedy has implemented sweeping changes, including firing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director and replacing the entire vaccine advisory panel with critics, alarming public health experts. These actions were a focal point of the hearing, with senators questioning the rationale and impact on public health.
A key moment involved Senator Ron Wyden pressing Kennedy on the firing of former CDC head Susan Monarez, who alleged she was dismissed for refusing to approve new vaccine recommendations without scrutiny. Kennedy denied this, claiming he asked for her resignation after she admitted to not being trustworthy, and defended the overhaul as necessary due to the CDC’s perceived failures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The debate over vaccine access intensified when Senator Maggie Hassan accused Kennedy of limiting Americans’ ability to get vaccinated. Kennedy responded angrily, stating, ‘You’re just making stuff up,’ which underscored the contentious nature of the discussion. This exchange highlighted the deep divisions over his policies.
Questions about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines also arose, with Senator Mark Warner asking how many lives vaccines saved during the pandemic. Kennedy initially cited ‘data chaos’ under the previous administration and claimed not to know, but later conceded that vaccines saved ‘quite a few’ lives, acknowledging their role despite his skepticism.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, criticized Kennedy for creating confusion with conflicting recommendations, such as the recent FDA decision to limit COVID-19 boosters to older adults and those with medical conditions. Cassidy argued that this effectively denies vaccines to people who want them, a charge Kennedy firmly rejected.
Following the hearing, President Donald Trump expressed support for Kennedy, praising him as ‘a very good person’ with ‘different ideas’ on health and vaccines. Trump’s comments suggest that Kennedy retains presidential backing, despite the bipartisan criticism and concerns from health experts about the direction of U.S. health agencies.