RFK Jr's HHS Chaos: Vaccine Skepticism, CDC Backlash, and Calls for Change

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

In the past several days Robert F Kennedy Jr has been at the epicenter of controversy, headline drama, and public health debate. The biggest news broke when more than 750 Health and Human Services employees sent a signed letter to Kennedy and members of Congress, demanding that the health secretary stop spreading misinformation. According to ABC News and Axios, these employees directly connected Kennedy’s years of vaccine skepticism to a deadly shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta on August 8. The gunman had harbored grievances about the COVID vaccine and wanted to make his anger known, triggering demands from within HHS for Kennedy to ensure the safety of CDC staff and to stop rhetoric they see as menacing and misleading.

Axios reports that Kennedy’s response was to publicly tour the CDC scene and issue carefully worded statements about protecting and honoring CDC employees. However, he remains at odds with many within his own department, as staff accuse him of being complicit in dismantling the nation’s public health infrastructure and undermining scientific integrity. Kennedy has repeatedly called the CDC a “cesspool of corruption” on social media and persistently questioned vaccine safety, with staff alleging these actions contribute directly to harassment and violence directed at CDC employees.

Nature details another significant flashpoint this week involving Kennedy’s demand for the retraction of a large Danish study that found no link between aluminum in vaccines and chronic diseases in children. It is a rare move for a U.S. public official, and prominent scientists criticized Kennedy for wanting the scientific literature to “bend to his will.” The authors of the study and other experts robustly defended the consensus that vaccines containing aluminum are safe. Kennedy published an opinion piece on TrialSite News charging that the Danish study excluded the youngest children, which he argued might hide possible harm. While some critiques overlapped with Kennedy’s, academic leaders say his stance is unsupported by the data.

Recent headlines also note Kennedy’s ongoing downsizing reforms at HHS. This week, reductions in force for CDC employees resumed, even as the trauma from the shooting lingers. Axios reports that many layoffs have targeted those working in violence prevention, deepening the strain on agency morale.

On social media, Kennedy has remained combative, defending controversial HHS actions and being publicly skeptical of mainstream vaccine guidance. The Vaccine Integrity Project, a new group of doctors and researchers, held its first meeting challenging federal vaccine data, a move Kennedy quietly amplified on X.

Amid all this, Kennedy has made recent public appearances unrelated to the drama, joining service members and Department of Defense civilians for a physical fitness challenge according to Defense.gov. Notably, the swirl of rumors about his political future appears to have cooled; ABC News confirms Kennedy denied intent to run for president in 2028 after criticism from conservative influencer Laura Loomer.

In sum, the last week has been a collision of violent tragedy, internal revolt, and Kennedy doubling down on his health reform and vaccine skepticism platforms. Any speculation about resignations or further shake-ups is unconfirmed, but insiders tell Axios that if Kennedy refuses to address HHS staff demands, congressional oversight could be imminent. This moment seems set to define Kennedy’s tenure and potentially the shape of national public health policy for years to come.

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