Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing sharp criticism not only from lawmakers but also from his own family, who are calling on the health secretary to resign over his controversial anti-vaccine views and handling of public health agencies.
Kennedy’s sister, Kerry Kennedy, issued a scathing statement after his tense appearance before a Senate committee last week. In the hearing, Kennedy defended his efforts to dismantle independent health bodies and pushed policies that critics say undermine science and public trust.
“Vaccines have saved millions of lives. Vaccines work. This is not up for debate,” Kerry Kennedy said. “Medical decisions belong in the hands of trained and licensed professionals, not incompetent and misguided leadership … enough is enough. Secretary Kennedy must resign. Now.”
His nephew, Joe Kennedy III, also denounced his uncle’s actions, accusing him of “dismissing science, misleading the public, sidelining experts and sowing confusion.” He added, “The challenges before us — from disease outbreaks to mental health crises — demand moral clarity, scientific expertise, and leadership rooted in fact. Those values are not present in the secretary’s office. He must resign.”
Kennedy’s tenure as health secretary has been marked by controversy. He has removed 17 vaccine experts advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dismissed its director Susan Monarez, and appointed vaccine sceptics to the advisory panel. He also cancelled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development and has openly questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, once describing them as “the deadliest vaccine ever made.”
His comments after a deadly shooting at the CDC headquarters last month further drew ire, as he appeared to sympathize with the attacker’s frustration over pandemic messaging.
The Kennedy family, a storied political dynasty from Massachusetts, has endured decades of personal tragedy, including the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. RFK Jr., widely known as “Bobby,” is a 71-year-old former Democrat who launched an independent presidential campaign last year before dropping out and endorsing President Trump, alienating many relatives.
Other family members, including Caroline Kennedy, have also criticized him, accusing him of past substance abuse and its impact on other family members.
