Senate Democrats have initiated an investigation into the Trump administration's changes to federal vaccine policy under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter to Kennedy demanding the production of official records related to the administration's decision to dismiss and replace all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which plays a crucial role in vaccine safety and insurance coverage for immunizations.
Kennedy previously claimed that the decision to reformulate the ACIP was made independently, but he testified before the Senate Finance Committee in April that it was made in consultation with the White House’s Domestic Policy Council. The senators expressed concern that the changes to the ACIP were influenced by political agendas rather than scientific evidence.
Wyden and Hassan described the reconstitution of the ACIP as a deliberate dismantling of the advisory body and alleged that Kennedy appointed members who have previously undermined vaccine credibility. Following the changes, the new committee made significant alterations to the childhood vaccine schedule, including modifications to the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation and COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for children.
A federal court ruled in March that the newly appointed ACIP members lacked the necessary expertise, leading to a freeze on the committee's recommendations. Subsequently, Kennedy's team updated the ACIP charter to broaden membership criteria and include a focus on identifying gaps in vaccine safety research, which HHS officials characterized as routine.
The senators have requested extensive records of communications between HHS and White House staff regarding the ACIP changes, as well as records related to the vetting of new committee members and compliance with federal laws governing advisory committee selections. They emphasized that Kennedy has utilized his authority to advance an anti-vaccine agenda, which they argue contradicts established scientific consensus. The Washington Examiner has reached out to HHS for comments on the investigation.