Pallone Calls for Bipartisan Investigation into Secretary Kennedy’s Actions to Restrict Access to Vaccines

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) wrote to Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) today to request immediate action be taken by the Committee to address Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s recent efforts to disrupt and restrict people’s access to vaccines. 

“I know you have scheduled a budget hearing with Secretary Kennedy for next week, but his unprecedented and troubling actions against ACIP warrant a separate oversight hearing.” Pallone wrote. “Furthermore, I request that you join me in opening a bipartisan investigation into Kennedy’s actions. Not only do these actions break promises he made under oath during his Senate confirmation, but they appear to be further proof that he intends to use his position as HHS Secretary to continue to advance his dangerous pseudo-science agenda. These disturbing actions warrant investigation, and I hope that you will join us in getting answers on behalf of the American people.”

Earlier this month, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and quickly appointed eight new members, including individuals who are known vaccine skeptics, affiliated with Secretary Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization, or have spread vaccine misinformation. Kennedy also unilaterally changed Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and children while citing erroneous claims about safety concerns unsupported by rigorous medical research and safety standards. The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2025.

“This unprecedented action by the Trump Administration to seriously undermine the health and well-being of the American people warrants action by this Committee,” Pallone concluded. “I hope you will recognize the need for timely action and respond to this request immediately.”  

As part of the investigation, Pallone requested the following: 

• Documentation and rationale provided to the 17 ACIP members prior to their termination;
• Contemporaneous documentation and substantiation of what appear to be baseless post-hoc accusations leveled by Secretary Kennedy against the dismissed ACIP members; and
• Briefings as well as documents from HHS related to the process used to select the eight new ACIP members and all documentation relating to the vetting of these new ACIP members.

In response to rising concerns of access to vaccines, Pallone and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to restore the independence of ACIP and take politics out of medicine. 

Read the full letter HERE.

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