Even Jerome Adams, the former U.S. Surgeon General under Trump, has recently sounded the alarm against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s policies. As we’ve seen in bumbles made by current Secretary of Health, RFK Jr.’s choices are cause for grave concern. Adams provides compelling reasons why RFK Jr. represents an existential threat to public health. He’s calling on President Joe Biden to fire him—for the sake of America. While we welcome this unusual challenge arising from RFK Jr.’s outlandish decisions to attack the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), his position on vaccines has been equally controversial.
In a recent bipartisan op-ed, Adams joined former Surgeons General Jocelyn Elders and Richard Carmona to make the case for reconnecting with our communities. It is clear that they were alarmed by RFK Jr.’s intent to lead. As many or all of you may recall, they warned that his policies threatened the independence of the CDC and the health of millions of Americans. This recent turbulence at the CDC isn’t just about bureaucratic or political concerns, that Bureau chief noted in the article. It focusses attention on a vital issue of life and death.
In particular, Adams slammed RFK Jr. for calling for the firing of all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) last June. He felt this decision was in great error. He pushed these experts out and instead appointed people who were just as infamous for their anti-vaccine sentiments—a decision that Adams called “absolutely dangerous.” Such moves, Adams said, would do almost irreparable damage to the CDC’s core public health mission.
Adams was using this platform to express his concern that RFK Jr.’s misinformed inclinations could have dire consequences for public health in the United States. “I absolutely believe that he should, for the sake of the nation,” Adams stated regarding the need for RFK Jr.’s removal. In late 2018, he testified before Congress about how RFK Jr.’s initiatives to restrict access to vaccines are putting all of America at risk.
The criticism from Adams and his co-authors is a sign of increasing distress from doctors. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Medical Association have reportedly lost trust in the CDC under RFK Jr.’s leadership. This newfound confidence in public health has far-reaching potential toward supporting public health efforts from coast to coast.
The situation escalated during a recent Senate committee hearing where Democrats called for RFK Jr.’s resignation or termination, accusing him of ignorance and a “reckless disregard for science and the truth.” Indeed, against this unusual backlash, President Biden himself congratulated RFK Jr. following the witch hunt of a hearing. This move only fueled the fire of concern about Biden’s command.
Adams emphasized that RFK Jr.’s actions put lives at risk, stating that they could “jeopardize not only the institution’s integrity but also the health and well-being of millions of Americans.” The former surgeon general’s statements reflect a growing sentiment among health experts who fear that RFK Jr.’s administration may undermine decades of public health progress.
The battle is still raging, and everyone from activists to policymakers are awaiting President Biden’s next move. Will he listen to Adams’ rallying cry and no longer allow RFK Jr. Should RFK Jr. maintain this newfound leadership, the consequences could be grave for our vital public health infrastructure. This change would at best undermine important policies that save American lives.