Fact Check: Senator Calls Anti-Vaccine Activist 'Extremist' After CDC Hires Her
What We Know
On June 26, 2025, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) publicly condemned the reported hiring of Lyn Redwood, a known anti-vaccine activist, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to oversee vaccine safety. In her statement, Senator Murray referred to Redwood as a "notorious anti-vaccine extremist" and expressed deep concern over the implications of such a hiring decision for public health. She emphasized that both Republicans and Democrats should be alarmed by the appointment, stating, “This is as disturbing as it gets, and we cannot become numb to it” (Senator Murray Calls on White House to Reverse Reported ...).
Redwood has been associated with the organization Children’s Health Defense, founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which has been criticized for promoting vaccine misinformation. Senator Murray's statement highlighted the potential dangers of allowing someone with Redwood's views to influence vaccine safety protocols, asserting that it could lead to increased vaccine hesitancy and jeopardize public health (Senator Murray Calls on White House to Reverse Reported ...).
Analysis
The claim that Senator Murray called Lyn Redwood an "extremist" is substantiated by her public statements. Murray's characterization of Redwood aligns with broader concerns expressed by health officials and experts regarding the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment in the U.S. This sentiment has been linked to various public health crises, including recent measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated communities (Opinion | Anti-vaccine extremism is akin to domestic terrorism).
Murray's statement is credible, as it comes from a long-standing advocate for public health and vaccine safety. Her role as a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee lends weight to her concerns about the implications of hiring someone with Redwood's background. The reliability of the source is high, given that it is an official statement from a sitting U.S. senator, which is typically subject to scrutiny and fact-checking before release.
In contrast, some sources, including those sympathetic to anti-vaccine views, may downplay the extremism associated with such activists. However, the consensus among public health experts is that misinformation propagated by anti-vaccine activists poses a significant risk to community health (Opinion | Anti-vaccine extremism is akin to domestic terrorism).
Overall, the evidence supports the assertion that Senator Murray labeled Redwood as an extremist due to her history and the potential consequences of her hiring.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
Senator Patty Murray did indeed call Lyn Redwood an "extremist" following reports of her hiring by the CDC. This characterization is supported by her official statements and reflects a broader concern about the influence of anti-vaccine activists on public health policy. Given the context and the credibility of the source, the claim stands as accurate.
