Over a thousand HHS employees petition for Kennedy's resignation, triggered by the CDC director's termination and agency modifications

In a significant development, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has called for the resignation of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. due to his actions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sanders, in an op-ed for The New York Times earlier this week, accused Kennedy of endangering the health of Americans due to his opposition to vaccines and advocacy of conspiracy theories. The Senator's call for Kennedy's resignation comes amidst growing concerns from CDC employees and public health experts.

The concerns stem from Kennedy's recent ousting of CDC director Susan Monarez and his appointment of political ideologues. Four other senior CDC officials resigned in protest after Monarez's ouster, partially due to anti-vaccine policies pushed by Kennedy. Hundreds of workers at the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta walked out in support of their former colleagues.

The letter calling for Kennedy's resignation states that HHS policies under Kennedy's leadership are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics. It further calls for the appointment of a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science.

The Trump administration, however, has defended Monarez's ouster. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president has the authority to fire those not aligned with his mission. Leavitt also said that the president and Kennedy are committed to restoring trust, transparency, and credibility to the CDC by making leadership and decisions more public-facing, accountable, and strengthening the public health system.

After Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s resignation, Jim O'Neill, the Deputy Secretary of HHS, has been appointed as the acting head of the CDC, indicating an interim leadership amid ongoing changes in the department. Leavitt added that the goal is to restore the CDC to its core mission of protecting Americans from communicable diseases, investing in innovation to prevent, detect, and respond to future threats.

Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with our website Digital, covering national politics and major breaking news events, has been following this story closely. In a recent article, Hagstrom reported that more than 1,000 current and former employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have signed a letter calling for Kennedy's resignation.

Sanders, in his op-ed, wrote that vaccines are safe and effective, a view shared by the medical and scientific communities. He emphasised that Kennedy's actions at the CDC could lead to a public health crisis in America.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will respond to these calls for change at the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Over a thousand HHS employees petition for Kennedy's resignation, triggered by the CDC director's termination and agency modifications