Former Representative Joe Kennedy III, who is the nephew of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., called for his uncle to resign on Friday. He criticized Kennedy Jr. for “dismissing science, misinterpreting the public, misinterpreting experts, and causing confusion” during a Senate hearing this week.
Joe Kennedy III previously served as the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland under President Joe Biden. He made a statement on X regarding his concerns:
Robert Kennedy Jr. poses a risk to the health and well-being of all Americans. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is meant to safeguard the public’s health. But at the recent hearing, he did quite the opposite—dismissing science, misleading the public, denying experts, and creating confusion.
No one is immune to the harm he causes. It affects everyone, regardless of wealth, power, or location. It’s heartbreaking to witness a loved one suffer, especially when he seems unaware of the consequences.
The issues we face demand moral clarity, scientific expertise, and leadership rooted in reality, from disease outbreaks to mental health challenges.
He ended his remarks by stating that RFK Jr.’s leadership lacks these essential values and reiterated his call for resignation.
This demand comes amid rising criticism from Democrats and some public health officials regarding Kennedy Jr.’s performance since his appointment by former President Donald Trump. Over 1,000 current and former Department of Health and Human Services employees signed a letter earlier this week accusing him of jeopardizing public health and demanding his resignation. Around the same time, Senator John Ossoff (D-GA) charged Kennedy with “gross mismanagement” and insisted he should step down.
Democrats have intensified their critiques in the wake of the recent dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monares, urging several senior CDC officials to resign. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) stated that such actions could amount to “destroying the CDC,” while Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) called Kennedy a “madman” and pushed for his removal. Senator Rafael Warnock (D-GA) went even further, labeling Kennedy as “the greatest threat to American health.”
Former public health officials and medical experts have also voiced their concerns. Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a CNN Medical Analyst, noted that Americans “don’t trust” HHS leadership, while former CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield emphasized the need for Kennedy to “actively embrace the value of the vaccine.”
Longtime vaccine skeptic Kennedy Jr. defended his actions as necessary reforms aimed at restoring confidence in public health agencies. During the Senate hearing, he pushed back against accusations, arguing that his alterations to the CDC and Vaccine Advisory Committee serve the public interest rather than endanger American health. He also defended the Biden administration’s handling of safety data concerning abortion medication, promising a comprehensive review via the FDA.
This isn’t the first instance of public disagreement within the Kennedy family. In July 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned at a private dinner that he had presented scientific evidence suggesting the coronavirus poses severe risks, which sparked his sister’s criticism. Kelly Kennedy publicly condemned her brother’s remarks as “deplorable” and “dishonest,” expressing her own discontent with Joe Kennedy III’s refusal to support her stance.
