U.S. Passes 2,000 Measles Cases in 2026 Under Trump and RFK Jr.’s Leadership Arrow

The number of measles cases in 2026 so far is almost as many as in all of 2025 and nearly four times as many cases as were recorded from 2020 to 2024

Today, under Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s watch, the U.S. has already surpassed 2,000 measles cases in 2026, nearly as many as in all of 2025 and almost four times as many cases as were recorded from 2020 to 2024. There have been 2,030 confirmed cases in 2026. If cases continue to spread at the current rate, the number of measles cases in 2026 would be more than double the record-high cases in 2025, which saw the most measles cases in over three decades.

At a congressional hearing, RFK Jr. said the Trump administration has "done better in preventing [measles] than any country in the world." Meanwhile, the administration has exacerbated measles outbreaks by spreading vaccine misinformation and failing to coordinate with state health officials. RFK Jr. even downplayed the seriousness of a measles outbreak while pressuring CDC officials to promote unproven alternatives to vaccines and standard treatments.

It's no wonder over 60% of Americans said they are not confident that RFK Jr. is providing the public with trustworthy information with regard to public health, and 60% of Americans disapprove of his performance as HHS Secretary.

In response,DNC spokesperson Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:

"Donald Trump and RFK Jr.'s assault on Americans' health and safety has caused outbreaks of preventable diseases and dysfunction in our public health system, and left Americans vulnerable to serious illnesses. Now, even more deadly global outbreaks are emerging, and because of RFK Jr., the U.S. remains without critical leadership and resources at health agencies that are crucial to keeping Americans safe from these diseases. Trump and RFK Jr. promised to 'Make America Healthy Again,' but instead they have put children and families in harm's way."

The U.S. recorded 2,288 cases in 2025 alone and the first measles-related deaths in 10 years. Now, more than 25 years after the virus was declared eliminated in the country, the U.S. is expected to lose its measles elimination status if it fails to prove that it can stop the spread of measles.

As measles continues to spread, hantavirus and Ebola now pose another public health threat, and as these global health crises unfold, critical national health agencies are in chaos. Under RFK Jr.'s leadership, countless jobs within HHS remain vacant, including 80% of the top posts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Current and former senior CDC officials have said that work at the agency has ground to a halt.