Over 1,000 HHS Employees Demand Dismissal of RFK Jr. for Health Endangerment

A significant number of current and former employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have issued an open letter urging the HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to either step down or be removed from his position.

This letter, which remains unsigned publicly due to concerns for privacy, comes at a challenging moment for the agency. Recently, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, was dismissed, leading to multiple high-level resignations within the CDC in opposition. These events followed staff reductions, alterations to vaccine approval procedures led by Kennedy, a noted skeptic, and an incident involving gunfire outside CDC headquarters.

Kennedy is accused in the letter of jeopardizing public health, referencing recent CDC disturbances, the push to overturn emergency authorizations on COVID-19 vaccines for children, and the advancement of individuals into key posts who are perceived as politically motivated rather than scientifically driven.

The letter demands Kennedy’s resignation and, failing his willingness to leave, for President Trump to appoint a different leader for the HHS.

"We have pledged to uphold the U.S. Constitution and safeguard the public, and this commitment obliges us to take a stand when the Constitution is undermined and citizens are endangered," the staff members stated in the letter.

Save HHS Advocates for Accurate Health Information

Originating from a group known as Save HHS, the letter follows a previous appeal for Kennedy to cease disseminating misleading health information. The list of signatories was shared with Congress but not made public out of concern for their safety and privacy.

HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon defended Kennedy's contributions, stating efforts made since he assumed his role aimed at restoring faith in a compromised CDC. Nixon highlighted Kennedy's commitment to evidence-based practices which, according to him, had led to unprecedented accomplishments within the first seven months.

Former CDC Directors Voice Concerns

A group of nine former CDC directors recently released a statement criticizing Kennedy for making unprecedented decisions at the agency, with Monarez's dismissal being cited as exacerbating the ongoing situation.

Scheduled to address the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy is expected to confront inquiries regarding the recent tribulations faced by HHS.

The White House last week acknowledged Monarez's removal, which her legal team dubbed unlawful, suggesting she had been targeted for her refusal to endorse hazardous directives and for supporting committed public health officials.

The CDC has also experienced the resignation of four senior leaders, who criticized agency budget reductions and accused the Trump administration of politicizing public health, while condemning vaccine misinformation.

A physician who heads the Senate health committee asserts that these resignations warrant scrutiny. Additionally, this individual participates in the Senate Finance Committee, highlighting further oversight responsibilities.

Changes and Vaccine Safety Concerns

Kennedy had earlier altered the composition of a CDC advisory committee responsible for vaccine recommendations, occasionally replacing members with those skeptical of vaccine safety.

Meanwhile, the FDA has approved a new series of COVID-19 vaccines targeted at younger individuals with preexisting conditions and senior citizens.