Senator Murray Calls for Inspector General Investigation into RFK Jr.’s Ousting of Top CDC Officials and Restrictions on Vaccine Access

ICYMI: Senator Murray, WA Health Secretary, Doctors Speak Out Against RFK Jr. Blocking Vaccine Access and Wreaking Havoc at CDC, Lay Out State of Vaccine Access in WA

ICYMI: Senator Murray Calls for HELP Committee Hearing with RFK Jr. on Campaign of Destruction at CDC and Beyond

ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Demands Immediate Firing of RFK Jr.: "This Man is Burning Down Our Public Health System from the Inside"

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Inspector General Juliet Hodgkins requesting an independent, comprehensive review of recent actions taken at HHS to limit access to vaccines and recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the letter, Senator Murray calls for the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to initiate an independent investigation into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior CDC career scientists. Murray also requested an OIG analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s recent move to dramatically narrow access to the updated COVID-19 vaccines.

"Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas," wrote Senator Murray. "Now, following Secretary Kennedy's destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC's vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy's effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC."

"In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy's changes to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members," Senator Murray continued. "The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP's vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts."

"Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket. Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access," Senator Murray concluded.

Senator Murray, a longtime congressional leader on health care who has led hearings on addressing vaccine hesitancy, has been a leader in raising the alarm over RFK Jr.'s nomination since the beginning-speaking out on the Senate floor, holding numerous events, raising the alarm after meeting with him, and hammering the threat he poses to Americans' health nonstop. She led the opposition to the Trump administration's disastrous plan to dismantle HHS and fire tens of thousands of staff in critical positions across CDC, NIH, FDA, and other agencies, and spoke out forcefully against RFK Jr.'s ousting of the entire CDC vaccine advisory board, including one ACIP member from Washington state. Senator Murray has held countless events across Washington state and in Washington, D.C. with doctors, patients, and former HHS officials to lift up how Trump and Republicans' attacks on health care will be devastating for families.

Senator Murray recently took to the Senate floor to reiterate her call for RFK Jr. to be fired immediately; she also praised the launch of the West Coast Health Alliance to provide evidence-based public health guidance for Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Last week, Senator Murray called for Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to compel RFK Jr. to testify publicly before the HELP Committee, as well as for the committee to hear from Susan Monarez and other former CDC officials. On Friday, Murray held a virtual press conference with Washington state health leaders on RFK Jr.'s increasingly dangerous attacks on vaccines and America's public health infrastructure.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Acting Inspector General Hodgkins,

I write today to request a comprehensive review of recent actions taken at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to limit access to vaccines, as well as the recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In particular, I am requesting that the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiate an independent review into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior-level CDC career scientists. Further, I am seeking the OIG's analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing a restrictive authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine for this upcoming fall and winter season, and whether that authorization was based on science and evidence, or was due to political pressure from the Secretary or other HHS political appointees.

It has been publicly reported - and Dr. Monarez has verified - that Secretary Kennedy, alongside political appointee Stefanie Spear, attempted to force CDC Director Monarez to resign from her post - less than a month after she was confirmed by the Senate. Secretary Kennedy directed Dr. Monarez to endorse vaccine recommendations before they had undergone scientific review and to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy. After she refused, Secretary Kennedy demanded her resignation. Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas. Now, following Secretary Kennedy's destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC's vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy's effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC.

Further, I am seeking the OIG's analysis of all actions Secretary Kennedy has taken to-date to limit vaccine access and whether or not those decisions were based on the best available science and evidence. On May 27, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced on social media that the COVID-19 vaccine had been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. Several months later, on August 27, 2025, the FDA released a much narrower authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine than in previous years, since the vaccine's initial development under President Trump's Operation Warp Speed. This decision limits access to the updated COVID-19 vaccine and removes individual and provider choice in determining who can be vaccinated. As part of its investigation, I ask the OIG to examine the decision making around recent changes in vaccine authorizations and recommendations, with a particular focus on the basis for such decisions. I request the OIG examine whether these decisions were based in changes in science or were based in political or ideological interference from Secretary Kennedy or any other political leadership in the Trump Administration.

In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy's changes to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members. The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP's vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts. I also ask the OIG to review the firings of the former ACIP members, who were dismissed before their terms ended, and to investigate the vetting process used for installing the new ACIP members and whether all federal laws and regulations were adhered to. Additionally, I request the OIG examine whether there were efforts by Secretary Kennedy and other political leadership to pre-determine the ACIP recommendations and to bypass scientific review.

The Department plays a critical role in securing the health and safety of the American people. Families and health care providers need to be able to trust the guidance coming from the FDA, CDC, and all HHS agencies. Under Secretary Kennedy's leadership, access to vaccines has been restricted, without regard for the evidence or the consequences for American families. Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket.

Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

###