Who Has Called for Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. to Resign? See the List

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing calls for his resignation after he testified before the Senate Finance Committee, which occurred amid his effort to reshape leadership at the u.s. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Newsweek reached out to the White House outside of normal business hours on Sunday afternoon for comment.

Why It Matters

Kennedy Jr. abruptly removed CDC Director Susan Monarez from her position last month, prompting three senior leaders from the agency to resign in protest. Monarez had held her position for about a month before she was removed.

Kennedy Jr. initially did not give a reason for her removal, but during his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, he claimed that Monarez was not “trustworthy.”

“I told her that she had to resign because I asked her, ‘Are you a trustworthy person?’ And she said, ‘no.'”

He also said at a press conference in Texas last week that “there’s a lot of trouble at the CDC and it’s going to require getting rid of some people over the long term, in order for us to change the institutional culture.”

However, Monarez’s lawyers say she refused to “rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts.”

Kennedy Jr.’s testimony proved tumultuous as committee members grilled him not only on his decision to remove Monarez but also on a number of other policy decisions they deemed concerning.

Democrats Seek Kennedy Jr.’s Resignation

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee released a statement following the testimony, calling Kennedy Jr. “unfit to serve” in his role.

“The actions Robert Kennedy has taken since he was sworn in reinforce the danger he poses to the health of America,” the committee members wrote, in part.

“Robert Kennedy has failed to protect the health of the American people and endangers the lives of all Americans, particularly children, people with disabilities, and vulnerable Americans,” the statement added. “Robert Kennedy must resign, and if he doesn’t, Trump should fire him before more American families are hurt by his reckless disregard…