The Senate Health Committee Democrats have started an investigation into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s choice to remove all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel (ACIP).
Kennedy replaced them with eight new members, some of whom are known for anti-vaccine views. This move has worried many Democrats and health experts who fear it could hurt public trust in vaccines.
What Democrats Want:
- They are asking Kennedy to give full details by August 12 about why the firings happened.
- They also want to see any conflict-of-interest reports, the rules used to pick new members, and the role of Lyn Redwood, a well-known anti-vaccine activist, in forming the new panel.
- Democrats warned that the panel’s decisions might be based on “junk science,” which could change vaccine guidelines and limit Americans’ access to shots.
Kennedy’s Side:
Kennedy says he made these changes to “restore trust” in vaccines and claims the old members had conflicts of interest, but he has not shown clear evidence to support that.
Bigger Picture:
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Back in June 2025, Kennedy fired the entire ACIP panel and replaced them with eight people, including several vaccine critics. Experts say this could harm the credibility of vaccine policy.
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After the shake-up, top CDC scientists, including Fiona Havers, resigned, warning that science-based policy was being weakened.
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Kennedy also intends to eliminate thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, from all vaccines in the U.S. vaccines, even though decades of studies have not shown it causes harm.
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He may also fire the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which sets free preventive care guidelines under the Affordable Care Act. The American Medical Association has urged him not to, saying it could hurt evidence-based healthcare.
Why It Matters:
This investigation is a major push by Democrats to challenge Kennedy’s health policies, which they see as risky for public health and vaccine confidence.
If the new appointments are found to break rules or ethical standards, they could be reversed or even challenged in court under federal administrative law.
Experts warn that undermining the vaccine advisory committee could lead to lower vaccination rates and a rise in preventable diseases.