Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released a cache of internal Health and Human Services emails on Thursday that appear to document HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directly pressuring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to alter its vaccine messaging and policies.
The emails, obtained by Sanders as ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, show Kennedy ordering the CDC's vaccine advisory panel to limit vaccine access, granting researchers access to confidential data to support the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, and changing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without CDC input.
Emails Reveal Pressure on CDC Leadership
One email chain shows Kennedy's then-chief of staff, Matthew Buckham, writing to former CDC Director Susan Monarez in August 2025 about requiring a "political review of major decisions at CDC" to ensure the secretary's office and political appointees had oversight before changes took effect. Less than a week later, Kennedy fired Monarez for refusing to rubber-stamp recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, according to Sanders.
"This is outrageous," Sanders said in a statement, accusing Kennedy of dismissing Monarez "for her commitment to public health and vaccines." He called for a bipartisan investigation into her termination and demanded Kennedy resign. The episode echoes broader tensions over vaccine policy, as seen in Senate Democrats' recent subpoena of Kennedy over his overhaul of the vaccine panel.
Flu Vaccine Campaigns Scrapped
The emails also indicate Kennedy ordered the cancellation of flu vaccine advertising campaigns. A CDC staffer emailed her supervisor that HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon told her to "pull out of circulation all campaign ad buys related to flu or anything encouraging shots or vaccinations." The staffer noted that ads had already been paid for and were running, but Nixon insisted the request "was a direct ask from Secretary Kennedy."
This move comes amid a broader shift in vaccine policy, including a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base that infected over 160 personnel after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the vaccine mandate.
Political Fallout and Calls for Hearing
Sanders has pressed HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to schedule a hearing on Kennedy's vaccine claims, noting the secretary's long history as an anti-vaccine activist before President Trump nominated him. In an April letter to Cassidy, Sanders accused Kennedy of running a "dangerous misinformation campaign" and continuing his "longstanding crusade against vaccines and his advocacy of conspiracy theories that vaccines cause autism — all of which have been repeatedly rejected by scientists."
The Vermont senator's push reflects his broader influence on Democratic policy, as detailed in his socialist blueprint reshaping the party amid fading centrist influence. Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry provided the emails to the committee, Sanders said. The Hill has sought comment from HHS.
Kennedy's tenure has been marked by controversy over vaccine policy, and these emails add to growing scrutiny from lawmakers. The release comes as Sanders also backs progressive candidates, such as his support for Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate primary, signaling his continued influence on the party's left flank.
