A Historic Rebuke: Former CDC Leaders Accuse RFK Jr. of Endangering Public Health

In an unprecedented and highly consequential development, a group of nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has publicly and formally accused Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of endangering the health of the American people.¹ In a scathing guest essay published in The New York Times on September 1, 2025, the former officials—spanning both Democratic and Republican administrations dating back to the Carter era—warned that Kennedy’s actions were “unacceptable” and “unlike anything our country has ever experienced.”² This rare and unified rebuke from the nation’s top public health experts serves as a powerful condemnation of what they view as a systematic dismantling of the country’s health infrastructure.

The core of the former leaders’ condemnation revolves around Kennedy’s long-standing and well-documented skepticism toward vaccines and his recent actions as HHS Secretary.³ They pointed to his abrupt dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez, who reportedly clashed with him over vaccine policy and refused to “rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives.”⁴ This firing triggered a wave of resignations from other senior CDC officials, leaving the agency in a state of chaos.⁵ The former leaders, including Drs. Rochelle P. Walensky, Mandy Cohen, and Tom Frieden, said they were deeply concerned that Kennedy was “focusing on unproven ‘treatments’ while downplaying vaccines” and canceling vital medical research.⁶ The group cited Kennedy’s cancellation of a $500 million federally-funded mRNA vaccine research program and his appointment of individuals with “dangerous and unscientific views” to key federal health advisory committees.⁷

The unified nature of the dissent is particularly striking. Coming from a bipartisan group of career professionals, the essay’s message transcends partisan politics. It frames the issue not as a clash of political ideologies but as a fundamental threat to the scientific integrity of public health institutions. The former leaders underscored this by stating that while they did not always agree with their respective leaders during their tenures, they “never gave us reason to doubt that they would rely on data-driven insights for our protection, or that they would support public health workers.” This statement implicitly contrasts their past experiences with what they describe as Kennedy’s ideological agenda, which they argue prioritizes political gain over evidence-based science.

The public health community has been sounding the alarm about Kennedy for months. Since his confirmation, his actions have been a source of constant concern. Just days before the former CDC leaders’ essay, senior CDC officials resigned in protest, with some accusing Kennedy of ignoring and sidelining experts.⁸ Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a former CDC director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, stated in his resignation letter that Kennedy had never been briefed by any of his center’s experts.⁹ This collective “cry for help” from inside the government, now joined by a chorus of former leaders from outside, signals a dire situation.

The repercussions of this crisis are immense. The former leaders warn that Kennedy’s actions put the U.S. at risk of a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio.¹⁰ They argue that by undermining the public’s confidence in science and dismantling key research programs, the administration is leaving the nation vulnerable to future pandemics. The essay serves as a powerful call to action, urging the public, Congress, and all who care about the nation’s health security to pay close attention. It is a stark reminder that public health is not a political football but a fragile system built on trust, expertise, and scientific rigor—a system, they argue, that is now in grave danger.

21 Bullet Points on Former CDC Leaders’ Condemnation of RFK Jr. (September 1, 2025)

• Nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have publicly condemned Robert F. Kennedy Jr.¹¹
• The condemnation was made in a guest essay published in The New York Times.¹²
• The essay was published on Monday, September 1, 2025.¹³
• The former leaders accused HHS Secretary Kennedy of “endangering the health of every American.”¹⁴
• The group includes directors who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations.¹⁵
• The former leaders cited Kennedy’s long history of vaccine skepticism as a central concern.¹⁶
• The essay came days after the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez.¹⁷
• Monarez’s lawyers stated she was fired for refusing to “rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives.”¹⁸
• The former leaders include prominent figures like Rochelle P. Walensky, Mandy Cohen, and Tom Frieden.¹⁹
• They expressed alarm over Kennedy’s focus on “unproven treatments” while “downplaying vaccines.”²⁰
• Kennedy’s administration canceled a $500 million federally-funded mRNA vaccine research program.²¹
• The former leaders accused him of replacing experts on federal health committees with unqualified individuals.²²
• They stated that the U.S. is at risk of a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.²³
• The rebuke is a rare, unified statement from a bipartisan group of career public health officials.
• It frames the issue as a threat to the integrity of public health institutions, not a political one.
• The essay highlights a long-standing pattern of Kennedy’s actions since his confirmation.
• The former leaders’ essay followed a wave of resignations by senior CDC officials.²⁴
• One resigning official, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, accused Kennedy of sidelining experts.²⁵
• The group called for Congress to perform its oversight function.
• The declaration asserts that public health is “in major jeopardy” under Kennedy’s leadership.²⁶
• The essay serves as a powerful call to action for the public and policymakers.

Separate Answer: When, Where, Why, and Who

When

The formal statement from the former CDC leaders was published on Monday, September 1, 2025.

Where

The public condemnation took the form of a guest essay published in The New York Times. The actions they are criticizing are happening within the U.S. government, specifically at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.27

Why

The former CDC leaders issued their condemnation because they believe Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions as HHS Secretary are systematically undermining the scientific integrity and core mission of the nation’s public health institutions. They cite his long history of vaccine skepticism, the firing of the CDC Director, the resignation of other senior officials, the cancellation of key research, and the appointment of unqualified individuals to advisory roles as evidence that he is endangering the health of Americans and leaving the country vulnerable to future health crises.28

Who

• The Accusers: A group of nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including former directors Rochelle P. Walensky, Mandy Cohen, and Tom Frieden.²⁹
• The Accused: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is serving as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).³⁰
• The Subject of Criticism: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s policies and actions as the head of the HHS, which the former leaders believe are based on unscientific views and are actively harming public health.³¹

This video shows a news report on the former CDC directors’ formal letter and interview about their concerns regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership.

Former CDC directors say RFK Jr. is endangering Americans’ health