RFK Jr. will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 4 regarding the recent CDC shakeup. The hearing, which was already in the works before Wednesday’s CDC director change, will give senators the chance to question Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the sudden removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez. This marks the first direct questioning of RFK Jr. by senators since his May testimony before the Senate HELP and Appropriations committees, where he discussed the department’s fiscal 2026 budget request.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo confirmed the hearing, emphasizing that Kennedy’s focus on addressing chronic diseases is central to the Trump administration’s health care agenda. However, several top CDC leaders resigned shortly after the CDC director’s ouster, raising concerns about the agency’s stability. Democrats, including Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, have strongly criticized the CDC changes, calling it a grave error and arguing that the administration’s actions are risking public health. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, sent a letter to Kennedy on Thursday, urging transparency and requesting information that has not yet been provided.
Kennedy is scheduled to appear before the Finance panel to discuss the Department of Health and Human Services’ Make America Healthy Again initiative. The hearings, including ones by the HELP Committee and Appropriations Committee, are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to restructure the agency and its policies. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the HELP Committee and is also a member of the Finance panel, has called for oversight of the high-profile departures, indicating that the situation is under significant scrutiny. Despite the criticism, Kennedy defended the CDC shakeup during a Fox News interview, stating that the agency is in trouble and that some individuals may no longer be suitable for their positions.
The situation has sparked a wide range of reactions, with some senators calling for a congressional investigation due to the perceived lack of transparency and governance. The hearing on Sept. 14 is expected to be a pivotal moment in assessing the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s approach to public health and the potential impact of these changes on the agency’s operations and public trust.