Why America’s CDC is in turmoil under RFK Jr. and what it means for global public health

Why America’s CDC is in turmoil under RFK Jr. and what it means for global public health

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined a sweeping vision to refocus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He argues the agency has lost public trust and should return to its roots by prioritizing infectious diseases, while chronic disease programs are shifted to a new body he calls the “Administration for a Healthy America.” Kennedy insists these reforms will strengthen transparency and restore faith in federal health policy, but they have already provoked sharp resistance, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Mass resignations shake the agency

The firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez last week triggered a wave of resignations from senior leadership. Monarez, who resisted Kennedy’s push to align vaccine recommendations with his newly appointed advisers, was asked to step down and refused before being dismissed. Following her ouster, respected figures including Demetre Daskalakis and Debra Houry also resigned, citing that political directives were replacing evidence-based decisions. More than 1,000 current and former Health and Human Services staff signed a letter to Congress urging Kennedy to resign, calling his actions a threat to national health security.

Political pressure from both parties

The changes have drawn bipartisan concern in Washington. While Kennedy was narrowly confirmed earlier this year, senators who supported him are now voicing doubts. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she worries the agency’s policies no longer feel “grounded in science,” while Democrat lawmakers have accused Kennedy of undermining the CDC’s independence. Kennedy is due to testify before the Senate Finance Committee, where both Republicans and Democrats are expected to question his approach to vaccine policy and leadership.

Vaccine policy overhaul sparks alarm

Perhaps the most controversial step has been Kennedy’s dismissal of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, replacing all members with his own appointees. This new panel will soon consider recommendations for Covid-19, hepatitis B and measles vaccines. Public health experts fear this change could sideline decades of scientific expertise and weaken vaccination programs at a critical moment. Kennedy’s allies argue the move is necessary to democratize decision-making, but critics warn it risks fuelling confusion and vaccine hesitancy.

Employee morale at a breaking point

Inside the CDC, the atmosphere is tense and uncertain. Some employees say they plan to stay on to safeguard institutional knowledge, while others predict more departures as Kennedy continues reshaping the agency. The turmoil follows earlier shocks, including proposed funding cuts and even a deadly shooting outside the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters. Staff say the loss of experienced leaders and the steady politicization of decision-making have left morale at one of its lowest points in memory.

What lies ahead for the CDC

The coming weeks will be decisive for Kennedy’s leadership and the CDC’s future. His testimony before the Senate will test his ability to defend his reforms against growing scepticism. Meanwhile, the first round of vaccine recommendations under the new advisory panel is expected to signal just how far the agency has shifted from its traditional evidence-based role. Whether these changes restore public trust or deepen divisions remains to be seen, but the upheaval has already left America’s most important public health body at a crossroads.