Ex-surgeons general: RFK Jr.’s actions are putting the nation’s health at risk

Former Surgeon Generals Criticize HHS Secretary’s Actions

Six former Surgeon Generals openly criticized Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday, voicing serious concerns about his effects on public health.

The group stated, “Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions are putting the public’s health at risk. Never before have we issued such a joint warning to the public. However, we cannot ignore the serious, immediate and unprecedented threat that Kennedy’s policies and positions pose to the public’s health.”

The former Surgeon Generals—Vivek Murthy, Jerome Adams, Richard Carmona, David Thatcher, Joycelyn Elders, and Antonia Novello—spanned appointments from both Democratic and Republican administrations.

In an op-ed, they expressed that under Kennedy’s leadership, “the foundations of our nation’s public health system were undermined.” They particularly called out his long-held claim linking childhood vaccines to autism, his management of the national measles outbreak, and his advice against pregnant women taking Tylenol, among other issues like the confusion surrounding the CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Committee.

In June, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing a need to restore trust in vaccines. He then appointed members known for their skepticism regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

ACIP recommendations require approval from the CDC Director before they can take effect. Following his inauguration, Kennedy fired former Secretary of State Susan Monares shortly after a prior disagreement over a commission decision.

Recently, the CDC endorsed ACIP’s recommendation that individuals consult their healthcare providers about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill also reiterated calls for vaccine manufacturers to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines in three doses.

The former Surgeons General claim that the policies under Kennedy “misled the public and harmed the health of Americans.” They remarked, “Rather than countering the rapid spread of health misinformation with facts and clarity, President Kennedy is amplifying it. The impact is not abstract; it is measured in the loss of life, the spread of disease, and the erosion of public trust that will take years to recover.”