Hearing with Former CDC Director Makes Clear – RFK Jr. is Continuing to Risk the Health and Safety of All Americans
September 17, 2025
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today during a committee hearing, Senator Kim spoke with former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez about her experience being fired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The conversation made clear that RFK Jr.’s idea of public health is firing anyone who disagrees with him.
Dr. Monarez confirmed to Senator Kim that RFK Jr. had communicated his plan was to keep firing until there was somebody in that position that was willing to go along with what he was asking. Senator Kim pointed out: “If he is not listening to you, if he is not listening to CDC career staff and experts, the question is, who is Secretary Kennedy listening to?”
Watch a clip of Senator Kim’s questions
(Access unedited footage of Senator Kim’s full question line)
Senator Kim also joined CNN’s News Central to discuss his takeaways from today’s hearing.
During today’s hearing Dr. Monarez and former Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry outlined that RFK Jr. announces major policy decisions via social media, demanded that the Director pre-approve decisions made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without reviewing the science, and insisted that political staff had to approve of Dr. Monarez’s policy and personnel decisions.
Soon after Dr. Monarez was forced out of her role, Senator Kim called for RFK Jr. to resign for showing a complete disregard for science and the health of our families. The Senator said in a statement: “We cannot allow Americans to be put further at-risk by his lies and his dangerous crusade against basic health standards proven to save lives.”
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