Summary
- Democratic
lawmaker calls to impeach HHS Secretary Kennedy. - Accuses
Kennedy of causing “health care chaos” in the department. - Criticism
centers on cuts to research funding and management.
The articles of impeachment, according to Stevens, will
center on concerns such as the Trump administration’s cuts to fundamental
research on topics like childhood addiction and cancer; the White House’s
recent, scientifically questionable assertion that Tylenol causes autism; the
mass dismissal of a CDC advisory panel; and Kennedy’s mistrust of vaccines.
“His contempt for science, the constant spreading of
conspiracy theories, and his complete disregard for the thousands of research
hours spent by America’s top doctors and experts is unprecedented, reckless,
and dangerous,” R
Zep. Haley Stevens of Michigan said in a statement.
The Democrat also claims that the health secretary lied
during his confirmation hearings when he said he would not change the CDC’s
recommendations for childhood vaccinations, only for the agency to curtail them
and heavily stress the value of seniors receiving the shot.
The Department of Health and Human Services and the White
House have been approached by The Independent for comment.
Given that Republicans control both the House and the
Senate, it seems doubtful that the impeachment attempt will proceed.
Kennedy oversaw the administration’s health initiatives
during a politically turbulent time.
IAn addition to the impeachment attempt, the health secretary
was criticized this month by former CDC Director Susan Monarez, who told the
Senate last week that Kennedy fired her in August for “holding the line on
scientific integrity” by refusing to support the administration’s preferred
changes to childhood vaccine recommendations and firings.
The president has previously hailed the use of mRNA
technology, a state-of-the-art approach used to quickly generate several COVID
vaccines, as a signature accomplishment, but earlier this summer, the Trump
administration canceled $500 million in vaccine research initiatives that use
this technology.
“I only see harm coming,”
Demetre Daskalakis, who
resigned his position as director of the National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases earlier this month, recently warned.
“I may be wrong,
but based on what I’m seeing, based on what I’ve heard with the new members of
the advisory committee for Immunization Practices, or ACIP. They’re really
moving in an ideological direction where they want to see the undoing of
vaccination.”
Which specific impeachment articles is Rep Haley Stevens
drafting?
Causing “health care chaos” with irresponsible cuts to
life-saving medical research, including funding for pediatric cancer, infant
death syndrome, and addiction.
Limiting access to vaccines while propagating false
information on vaccine safety, including unfounded claims linking vaccines to
autism.
Politicizing the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
Disregard for key CDC advisors and termination of the CDC
Director, eroding public health infrastructure. Stevens said we need science
and fact-based leadership – not conspiracy theories and chaos, and called
Kennedy’s leadership style unprecedented, reckless, and dangerous.
