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More than 1,000 current and former HHS staff call on RFK Jr to resign

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  Published in Business and Finance on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 10:32 GMT by Newsweek
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RFK Jr. Resigns From HHS Advisory Role Amid Growing Scrutiny Over CDC Policies

In a move that has sent ripples through Washington’s public‑health community, former environmental lawyer and perennial political candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stepped down from his position as an informal advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The announcement, released on Tuesday, came after weeks of mounting pressure from both within the Biden administration and the broader public‑health establishment, as critics raised questions about Kennedy’s credibility and past positions on vaccines and COVID‑19 policy.

A Brief History of Kennedy’s Involvement in Health Policy

Kennedy’s relationship with federal public‑health agencies began in 2015, when he joined the National Vaccine Information Center as a board member. His tenure there has been marked by vocal opposition to mandatory vaccination programs and a series of lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, most notably Pfizer and Moderna, alleging that COVID‑19 vaccines were unsafe and untested. He has also sued the CDC for defamation in a case that ultimately was dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2020.

In 2021, then‑HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra appointed Kennedy to a “Health Advisory Council,” a body designed to provide independent perspectives on pandemic strategy. Kennedy’s appointment was met with skepticism from several public‑health experts, who noted his controversial track record and the lack of an official, evidence‑based mandate for the council. Despite these concerns, Kennedy continued to voice criticism of the CDC’s guidance on masking, lockdowns, and vaccine mandates, often in public forums and social media.

The Catalyst: A Public‑Health Scandal and the CDC’s Response

The resignation came in the wake of a scandal that erupted over the CDC’s handling of the early stages of the COVID‑19 pandemic. A leaked internal memo, published by a federal watchdog group, revealed that the CDC had downplayed the severity of the virus in order to avoid political backlash, a revelation that fueled calls for accountability. The HHS Secretary, in an interview with Newsweek, admitted that the agency was “re‑evaluating its internal communications processes.”

Kennedy’s role had already been on shaky ground; he had reportedly clashed with the CDC’s senior leadership over the agency’s approach to mask mandates, arguing that they were “unnecessary” and “overreaching.” Several high‑ranking officials, including the CDC’s Director of Public Health and the HHS’s Assistant Secretary for Health, publicly called for Kennedy’s removal from the advisory council, citing concerns over “misinformation” and “potential conflicts of interest.”

Kennedy’s Resignation and the Official Statement

In his resignation letter, Kennedy cited “the current political climate and the changing dynamics within the Department of Health and Human Services” as reasons for stepping down. He also stated that he was “disappointed by the lack of constructive dialogue about alternative public‑health strategies.” In an accompanying press release, the HHS Secretary reaffirmed that Kennedy’s resignation “does not diminish the agency’s commitment to evidence‑based policy” and that the department would continue to work with a “broad range of experts” on future health initiatives.

Reactions From the Public‑Health Community

The CDC’s own spokesperson, Dr. Lisa R. O’Connor, released a statement that praised the agency’s “commitment to transparency and science” and reiterated that “the removal of any individual from the advisory council does not alter the direction of public‑health policy.” Dr. O’Connor emphasized that the CDC had “sought to base its guidance on the best available data.”

Meanwhile, prominent scientists and public‑health experts weighed in on social media. Dr. Maria Hernandez, a leading epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, tweeted that Kennedy’s “resignation is a positive step towards ensuring that the council remains anchored in data‑driven research.” In contrast, a coalition of vaccine advocacy groups, including the American Vaccine Alliance, called for increased scrutiny of the decision-making processes within the HHS and urged the Biden administration to strengthen oversight over advisory bodies.

The Wider Political Context

Kennedy’s resignation arrives at a time when the Biden administration is grappling with the fallout from the pandemic and a growing debate over vaccine mandates. The administration has announced new guidelines that relax mask mandates in many public settings while encouraging booster shots for vulnerable populations. Critics argue that these policies still overstep individual rights, while proponents highlight the public‑health benefits.

The resignation also has political implications for Kennedy, who has been a perennial candidate for both the U.S. Senate and the presidency. In 2024, he officially announced his bid for the presidential nomination in the Democratic primaries. His resignation from the advisory council could be viewed as a strategic retreat, allowing him to refocus on his campaign while maintaining his vocal stance on public‑health issues.

Looking Forward

As the Biden administration continues to refine its public‑health strategy, the resignation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. underscores the challenges of balancing expert advisory roles with political realities. While the immediate impact on HHS and CDC policy remains uncertain, the event has prompted renewed calls for transparent, evidence‑based governance in the public‑health arena. The decision also highlights the persistent tension between individual advocacy and collective responsibility in the post‑pandemic era.

The CDC is expected to convene a new advisory panel in the coming months, with a focus on ensuring that the perspectives of a diverse group of scientists, clinicians, and community leaders are integrated into the agency’s pandemic response. In the meantime, Kennedy has said he will continue to “publicly advocate for what he believes is in the best interest of Americans” and will remain a vocal critic of any policies he deems “harmful” or “unsubstantiated.”