Senators grill RFK Jr. over chaos at CDC: Takeaways from the hearing

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his tenure before the Senate Finance Committee.

 

September 5, 2025

 

"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday defended his tenure in a roughly three-hour Senate hearing, following upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and frustration with his approach to vaccines.

...

Kennedy ripped coronavirus vaccines, again

Kennedy kept up his criticism of coronavirus vaccines, despite the fact that they were developed during the first Trump administration. He said he did not know how many people died of covid during the pandemic, again casting doubt on CDC data that show more than 1.2 million Americans died of covid-19, including hundreds this summer.

...

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) asked Kennedy about his past remarks calling the coronavirus vaccine the “deadliest vaccine ever made” and how that aligns with Kennedy telling senators he agrees Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed, the federally backed initiative that developed coronavirus vaccines.  Eventually, Kennedy acknowledged that the vaccine saved “quite a few” lives but declined to say it was in the millions, as the World Health Organization and researchers have estimated.

 

(more)

 

Washington Post

https://archive.ph/VoIzL

 

 

 

Kennedy Rejects Criticism, Data and Decorum in Contentious Hearing

A combative Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his tenure as health secretary in a Senate hearing. A prominent Republican told him that his actions were “denying people vaccine.”

 

September 4, 2025

 

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions about his tumultuous tenure as health secretary during a contentious hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.

 

During his nearly seven months in office, Mr. Kennedy has upended the Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing widespread changes to the institutes under his leadership. None has been hit harder than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends vaccines for Americans.

...

Both Republicans and Democrats pressed Mr. Kennedy on vaccine access.

“It’s been obvious from the start that Robert Kennedy’s primary interest is to take vaccines away from Americans,” said Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the committee’s ranking Democrat. “His actions reveal a steadfast commitment to elevating junk science and fringe conspiracies.”

...

Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, pointed to the obstacles some Americans are facing in accessing the vaccines. Major pharmacies in some states are currently requiring that even people who are at high risk get prescriptions for the shots.  “Effectively, we’re denying people vaccine,” said Mr. Cassidy. He supported Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation, despite some misgivings, but has become increasingly critical of him in recent weeks.

 

(more)

 

New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/04/us/rfk-jr-senate-hearing-health

 

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made by RFK Jr. during Senate hearing

September 5, 2025

 

"U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made myriad false and misleading claims on Thursday as he fielded questions examining his seven-month tenure leading the nation’s health agencies at a contentious three-hour hearing.  Kennedy ignored government data, twisted legislation and pointed to unsubstantiated treatments while addressing topics such as COVID-19 vaccines, rural hospitals and school shootings.

 

COVID-19

"KENNEDY, on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines: “The only confusion I expressed is exactly how many lives were saved. I don’t think anybody knows that.”

THE FACTS: Kennedy was answering a question from Sen. Maggie Hassan on whether COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of American lives. Myriad studies on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines have been published since they first became available in late 2020. Although protection does wane over time, they provide the strongest barrier against severe infection and death."

 

KENNEDY, on COVID-19 booster shots: “Anybody can get the booster.”

THE FACTS: The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated COVID-19 shots, but only for seniors or younger people with underlying health risks. Many pharmacies are unwilling or legally barred from giving vaccines outside the uses endorsed by the FDA and other federal authorities."

 

KENNEDY, on how many Americans have died from COVID-19: “I don’t think anybody knows that, because there was so much data chaos coming out of the CDC and there were so many perverse incentives.”

THE FACTS: This data is easily accessible. Approximately 1.2 million Americans have died from the virus, according to both the CDC, and the WHO."

 

(more)

 

Associated Press

https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-kennedy-rfk-congress-senate-vaccines-covid-deaths-hospitals-efa457f139dabcce6f54c0ac2c590512

 

 

 

 

Personally I would love to see RFK jr burn the CDC to the ground, but that is of course 'politically not correct or acceptable'.  So in view of the political roadblocks to initiate the much-needed radical changes from within at the parasite-organizations that he now oversees, I applaud RFK jr for taking on that garguantuan task.  Obviously he is obstructed and being smeared by those that are profiting from the current medical money-machine, but he is a Man with a Mission.  

So keep up the long overdue good work Bobby!

So, today's children will be subject to increase risk from measles -- and (gad!) -- polio -- because a conspiracy lunatic is now a member of Trump's cabinet? How can this possibly be turned around, if Trump is also a lunatic? Sigh. 

5 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

So keep up the long overdue good work Bobby!

 Yeah, buy stock in iron lungs. 

1 minute ago, JimGant said:

So, today's children will be subject to increase risk from measles -- and (gad!) -- polio -- because a conspiracy lunatic is now a member of Trump's cabinet? How can this possibly be turned around, if Trump is also a lunatic? Sigh. 

The worst part is he is making all vaccines illegal even if parents are willing to purchase them out of pocket. Sadly, flat earthers are taking over. This will eventually pass, even if it's like a kidney stone. The children who will be harmed will be on RFK though his worm-addled brain won't care.

What a waste of time and money that hearing was. Big Pharma must be getting nervous

2 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The worst part is he is making all vaccines illegal even if parents are willing to purchase them out of pocket

Tell us how. I bet you can't

Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s testimony during Thursday's hearing

The HHS secretary repeated several false and misleading claims.

 

September 5, 2025

 

"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeated false and misleading claims on a wide range of health topics in his hearing Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee. Chiefly, he reiterated false or unsubstantiated claims about the purported harms of vaccination. Several senators also made misleading or false statements.

...

Claim: Anyone can get a COVID shot

Fact check: Recent FDA restrictions mean many Americans face barriers

 

Kennedy repeated the promise that "anyone can get a [COVID] booster" and "I'm not taking [them] away from people" when the reality on the ground is that some people are not able to access COVID vaccines because of the narrowing of FDA approvals and subsequent policy confusion. Kennedy was also not accurate in saying there is "no clinical data" to support COVID vaccines. They were studied in large, randomized clinical trials showing they reduce the risk of infection and serious illness.

...

Claim: The US had the most COVID deaths, and CDC is to blame

Fact check: Needs context

 

Kennedy pointed out the U.S. comprises roughly 4% of the population but had 20% of COVID deaths. This statistic was roughly accurate as of 2021. However, the missing context is that the U.S. had strong data systems to track deaths compared to other countries so it might have more documented deaths on paper.

 

Meanwhile, Kennedy places the blame for COVID mistakes squarely on the CDC. Many public health experts argue that politics and social resistance hampered the CDC's efforts to quell the pandemic and save lives and the U.S. has a high burden of some chronic diseases that can lead to more severe COVID-19 infections, the CDC says."

 

(more)

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fact-checking-rfk-jrs-testimony-thursdays-hearing/story?id=125263735

 

Fact-check: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spars with Senate committee over COVID-19 vaccines, CDC

September 4, 2025

 

...

Kennedy changes tune on 2020 COVID vaccine initiative

"[Republican Sen. Bill] Cassidy asked Kennedy if he agreed that President Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed, Trump’s 2020 initiative that resulted in the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines.  "Absolutely," Kennedy said. 

 

Cassidy said Kennedy’s support surprised him, because of Kennedy’s COVID-19 vaccine criticisms and actions. Kennedy canceled funding for mRNA vaccine research, the science that led to the rapid development of the vaccine.  In 2021, Kennedy falsely said the COVID-19 vaccine was the "deadliest vaccine ever made." 

 

In the Sept. 4 hearing, Kennedy said that Operation Warp Speed was "genius" because it "it got the vaccine to market that was perfectly matched to the virus at that time, when it was badly needed because there was low natural immunity and or people getting very badly injured by COVID." 

 

(more)

 

https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/sep/04/RFK-jr-HHS-senate-vaccine-covid-fact-checking-live/

 

A post making an unsourced and unsubstantiated claim of purported fact has been removed, per the forum's rules. Also a post from a disallowed non-credible "news" source.

 

"In factual areas such as news forums and current affairs topics member content that is claimed or portrayed as a fact should be supported by a link to a relevant reputable source."

 

47 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The worst part is he is making all vaccines illegal even if parents are willing to purchase them out of pocket.

That sounds really scary.  Should we stock up now?

9 hours ago, Airalee said:

That sounds really scary.  Should we stock up now?

You obviously don't have any young children (nor empathy, but we already knew that).

14 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

Personally I would love to see RFK jr burn the CDC to the ground, but that is of course 'politically not correct or acceptable'.  So in view of the political roadblocks to initiate the much-needed radical changes from within at the parasite-organizations that he now oversees, I applaud RFK jr for taking on that garguantuan task.  Obviously he is obstructed and being smeared by those that are profiting from the current medical money-machine, but he is a Man with a Mission.  

So keep up the long overdue good work Bobby!

I do not understand, can you explain why you would "love to see RFK jr burn the CDC to the ground" 

Did RFK have two Senate Finance Committee meetings on the same day? I don't think the WP fact-checking reporter attended the same televised meeting that I watched. 

6 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

You obviously don't have any young children (nor empathy, but we already knew that).

Oh…..for the children.   LOL.  The perfectly healthy ones?

 

And speaking of empathy…..why would I have an ounce of empathy for people who wanted me either forcefully injected, denied healthcare if I chose not to get vaxxed,  put into “camps” (heil hitler!), and on and on and on.

 

Nope.   I celebrate your deaths.

 

I have no empathy at all.   In fact, I have nothing but schadenfreude.   There was this one lady who used to post here.   Real nasty woman.   Guess what?   She. died! 😁

 

 

17 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

In 2021, Kennedy falsely said the COVID-19 vaccine was the "deadliest vaccine ever made." 

Did they name the vaccine that was more deadly?

3 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

I do not understand, can you explain why you would "love to see RFK jr burn the CDC to the ground" 

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/metaphorically

 

 

"Misinformaaaatioooooon…", "debuuuuunked…", bleat the brainwashed sheep.

 

 

An off-topic social media post unrelated to COVID has been removed.