RFK Jr 'endangering' Americans, say former CDC bosses

September 2, 2025

Nine former CDC directors have written an open letter criticizing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's policies, claiming his seven-month tenure is "unlike anything our country had ever experienced" and is endangering Americans' health.

Who is affected

American public health and safety
Children at risk of serious diseases
Americans who could lose health insurance under Medicare
CDC staff and leadership, including Dr. Susan Monarez and those who resigned in protest
HHS employees, with hundreds being cut across programs
Global vaccine program recipients who lost US support
Populations vulnerable to infectious diseases and environmental health issues affected by research cuts

What action is being taken

Nine former CDC directors are publishing an open letter criticizing Kennedy's policies
Kennedy is restricting vaccines and pulling funding for research
Kennedy is firing thousands of healthcare workers
Kennedy has cut $500 million in grants and contracts for mRNA vaccine work
Kennedy has ended US support for the global vaccine program
Over 700 current and former HHS employees have published a letter accusing Kennedy of endangering Americans' health

Why it matters

The former CDC directors warn Kennedy's policies could put children at risk of serious disease
They believe his actions could lead to another pandemic if left unchallenged
Public trust in the CDC is at stake, according to both Kennedy and his critics
The removal of Dr. Monarez is described as especially damaging to the organization
Kennedy's leadership has resulted in significant changes to vaccine programs and research funding
The controversy represents an unprecedented situation in American public health administration

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC