Trump administration and RFK Jr. accused of political interference in vaccine science as top CDC officials resign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – INTERNATIONAL POLITICS – AUGUST 28, 2025 – The saga continues as Trump Turmoil all seemingly appealing to the MAGA base. The Trump administration has allowed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to continue his seeming reign of unscientific leadership and policies to take greater charge.

In a dramatic and unprecedented shake-up within the U.S. public health system, three senior leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resigned this week in protest, citing political interference in vaccine policy making by the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The resignations follow the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez, a long-serving government scientist who refused to implement what she called “unscientific, reckless directives.” Monarez’s ouster has drawn condemnation from health experts and lawmakers across the political spectrum, and raised concerns among international health authorities over the future of vaccine policy in the U.S.

“We’ve entered an unfettered situation where undue influence and ideology are driving the science,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, one of the three resigning leaders and the agency’s former head of respiratory illness and immunization.

Leadership Void at CDC Raises Global Red Flags

The White House installed Jim O’Neill, a close ally of RFK Jr., as acting CDC Director following Monarez’s dismissal. O’Neill is not a medical doctor and has advocated for reduced regulatory oversight of medical interventions. The move, coupled with RFK Jr.’s long-standing anti-vaccine views, has sparked international concern about the direction of U.S. public health leadership.

Dr. Deb Houry, former CDC Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Dan Jernigan, who oversaw infectious disease response, also resigned. All three were escorted off the CDC’s Atlanta campus Thursday morning.

“Without scientific leadership, I couldn’t stay,” said Houry, warning that Kennedy’s reshaped Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) could undermine years of public health consensus.

RFK Jr.’s Influence on Vaccine Policy Under Scrutiny

Since being appointed to lead HHS, RFK Jr. has removed key CDC and FDA vaccine officials, replaced vaccine advisory committee members with critics of immunization science, and repeatedly questioned the safety and necessity of routine vaccines.

His critics say the result has been a chilling effect on research and transparency within the CDC.

“This is death by a thousand cuts for U.S. public health,” said Daskalakis, adding that scientific data is now being reshaped to align with political narratives.

The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, ACIP, is scheduled to meet in mid-September to review recommendations on childhood immunizations, including COVID-19, RSV, hepatitis B, and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella). Critics say the integrity of that process is now in question.

Canadian and Global Implications

For Canada and other nations that rely on U.S. regulatory signals and global collaboration in infectious disease control, the current upheaval could have ripple effects. Experts say disinformation campaigns and the erosion of scientific institutions in the U.S. may embolden similar trends elsewhere, weakening cross-border health preparedness.

“Science cannot be dictated by ideology,” said one senior official at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are watching this situation closely.”

Public health analysts warn that a weakened CDC could disrupt global vaccine supply chains, cross-border disease monitoring, and confidence in U.S.-led scientific consensus—especially as misinformation increasingly transcends borders.

Political Fallout in Washington

Reaction from U.S. lawmakers has been swift:

• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called for a bipartisan investigation, stating RFK Jr. is “manipulating science to fit his dangerous conspiracy theories.”

• Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), a key vote in Kennedy’s confirmation, urged postponement of the ACIP meeting, citing “serious allegations.”

• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) both expressed alarm at the collapse of institutional leadership at the CDC.

CDC Staff in Open Revolt

The resignations have sparked visible unrest inside the CDC. Hundreds of staff reportedly applauded and embraced the three outgoing leaders Thursday, many holding signs reading “Science, not conspiracy” and “We love CDC.”

“It’s becoming very difficult to do our jobs or support science in this environment,” said Dr. Elizabeth Soda, a CDC physician speaking in her personal capacity.

A Growing Crisis of Trust

The turmoil follows a mass shooting earlier this month at CDC headquarters, carried out by a gunman radicalized by vaccine misinformation. Staff have blamed RFK Jr.’s rhetoric for creating a hostile and unsafe atmosphere for public health workers.

RFK Jr. has repeatedly criticized the CDC, falsely claiming that vaccines are among the agency’s “top medical failures” and dismissing the hepatitis B vaccine as “for prostitutes and gay men”—a comment widely condemned by health professionals.