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Democratic senators this week warned that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, intends to fire potentially thousands of federal employees.
“I was struck by your comments in our meeting last week where you made it abundantly clear to me that you intended to clean house of the professional scientists at the National Institutes of Health,” said Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., during a Thursday Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. NIH is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
In response, Kennedy said he wants to remove “the ones who are corrupt.”
Referencing a list developed by a conservative group targeting certain Homeland Security Department federal employees, Alsobrooks asked Kennedy if a similar list existed for the HHS workforce. The nominee said he wasn’t aware of any such list.
Likewise, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a Wednesday Senate Finance Committee hearing that Kennedy told him that he wants to remove 2,200 people from HHS.
Kennedy committed to “not firing anybody who’s doing their job.” But after a follow-up from Warner, Kennedy said that determination would be based on his opinion.
“I guess that means a lot of the folks who’ve had any type of views on vaccines will be out of work,” Warner replied.
Kennedy is known for spreading misinformation about vaccines, even though he said on Thursday that he wants to “restore trust” to the vaccine program.
“If we want uptake in vaccines, we need a trustworthy government,” he said.
Kennedy has previously threatened to remove federal employees who have been involved in research decisions that he disagrees with; although, civil service job protections should largely guard against such removals.
The nominee acknowledged that he will need experts at NIH, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement his goals to combat chronic diseases.
“Much as I’ve criticized certain industries and agencies, President Trump and I know that most of the scientists and experts genuinely care about American health,” he said in his opening remarks. “Therefore, we will bring together all stakeholders in pursuit of this unified goal.”
Kennedy also committed to not revise CDC recommendations based on his personal beliefs.
“I am not going to go into HHS and impose my preordained opinions on anybody at HHS,” he said.
Democrats in both hearings criticized Kennedy over his lack of knowledge about HHS’ functions and authorities.
“What is Medicare Part A?” Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked Kennedy on Thursday.
“Medicare Part A is mainly for primary care or physicians,” Kennedy answered.
“No, Medicare Part A is seniors’ coverage for inpatient hospital care” Hassan replied.
Kennedy also said he didn’t know if the COVID-19 vaccine was successful in saving millions of lives when asked by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ranking member of Senate HELP.
“You’re applying for the job. I mean, clearly you should know this,” Sanders said. “The scientific community has established that the COVID vaccine has saved millions of lives, and you’re casting doubt. That is really problematic.”
NIH reported in 2022 that the COVID vaccine prevented an estimated 14.4 million deaths in one year.
Senate HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., — who is a medical doctor and member of the Finance Committee, which ultimately will vote on Kennedy’ nomination — said at the end of Thursday’s hearing that he is still undecided.
“If you come out unequivocally vaccines are safe, it does not cause autism, that would have an incredible impact,” Cassidy told Kennedy. “That’s your power. So what’s it going to be? Will it be using the credibility to support lots of [research] articles or will it be using credibility to undermine? And I got to figure that out for my vote.”
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