Fact Check: Kennedy fired all 17 CDC advisory committee members for conflicts of interest.

Fact Check: "Kennedy fired all 17 CDC advisory committee members for conflicts of interest."

What We Know

On June 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced the removal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This committee is responsible for making recommendations regarding vaccine safety and efficacy to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (HHS Press Release). Kennedy stated that this action was taken to restore public trust in vaccines and to ensure that the committee's recommendations would be based on unbiased science, free from conflicts of interest (NPR, New York Times).

Kennedy emphasized that the previous administration had appointed these members and that their presence would have limited the current administration's ability to reshape the committee until 2028 (HHS Press Release). He referred to the need for a "clean sweep" to reestablish confidence in vaccine science (HHS Press Release).

Analysis

The claim that Kennedy fired all 17 members of the CDC advisory committee is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The New York Times and NPR both confirm that Kennedy indeed dismissed all members of ACIP, citing his rationale of eliminating potential conflicts of interest as a key reason for this decision.

However, it is important to note that while Kennedy stated the removal was due to conflicts of interest, he did not provide specific evidence of such conflicts among the previous members (Reuters). This lack of transparency raises questions about the motivations behind the dismissal. Kennedy's history as an anti-vaccine activist and his controversial views on public health may also influence perceptions of his actions (Wikipedia).

The sources reporting on this event are reputable, with NPR and the New York Times being well-established news organizations. However, Kennedy's own statements and the context of his administration's agenda should be critically evaluated due to his history of promoting vaccine misinformation (Wikipedia).

Conclusion

The claim that "Kennedy fired all 17 CDC advisory committee members for conflicts of interest" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that Kennedy did indeed remove all members of the ACIP. While the stated reason was to eliminate conflicts of interest and restore public trust, the lack of specific evidence supporting claims of such conflicts suggests that the motivations behind this decision may be more complex.

Fact Check: Kennedy fired all 17 CDC advisory committee members for conflicts of interest.