Trump’s Fired CDC Director Speaks Up

Dear Fellow Vermonter,
 
Americans rely on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide clear, evidence-based guidance to keep us healthy and safe. This includes recommendations on which vaccines should be administered to whom and when. That’s why it is crucially important for these agencies to be led by dedicated public servants who will stand up to political pressure and do the right thing for America’s families and children.

Unfortunately, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has demonstrated over the past few months the extent to which he will go to advance his longstanding crusade against vaccines and his advocacy of conspiracy theories that have been rejected repeatedly by scientific experts.

On July 31, Dr. Susan Monarez was sworn in as our nation’s first Senate-confirmed director of the CDC. At her swearing-in ceremony, Secretary Kennedy called Dr. Monarez “a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials.” Less than a month later, on August 27, Dr. Monarez was fired because she refused to rubber stamp Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous agenda to substantially limit the use of safe and effective vaccines. In my view, that action would endanger the lives of the American people and people throughout the world.

Last week, Dr. Monarez testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee about the Trump administration’s decision to fire her and oust other leading scientists at the CDC. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch this video of my questions to Dr. Monarez from the hearing.

It is absurd to have to state this in the year 2025, but vaccines are safe and effective. That is not just my view. Far more importantly, it is the overwhelming consensus of the medical and scientific communities:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics, the country’s largest professional association of pediatricians, representing over 67,000 doctors, says vaccines are “one of the greatest public health achievements.”
• The American Medical Association, representing over 270,000 doctors, says vaccines are “the best tools to protect the public against [COVID, RSV and flu] and their potentially serious complications.”
• The World Health Organization, alongside virtually every medical and science organization, tells us that vaccines are safe and effective.

Secretary Kennedy has profited from and built a career on sowing mistrust in vaccines. Now, as head of HHS, he is using his authority to launch a full-blown war on science, on public health and on truth itself. This will inevitably make it harder for Americans to get the lifesaving vaccines they need. This is unacceptable. 
 
Mr. Kennedy must resign. In his place, President Trump must listen to doctors and scientists and nominate public health leaders who will protect the health and well-being of the American people, not carry out dangerous policies based on conspiracy theories.

Sincerely,