Senate Resolution Calls for RFK Jr. Removal Over Alleged $11 Billion Funding Cut and Mass Firings at HHS

This Senate resolution isn't a bill that changes policy, but it’s a formal, high-stakes declaration that the Senate has lost confidence in the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and believes he should be removed. Think of it as a very public, very detailed performance review that ends with a recommendation for termination.

The Claim: Undermining Public Health Infrastructure

The core of the resolution is a laundry list of serious accusations that, if true, point to a systematic dismantling of federal public health and research agencies. The most immediate impact to states and local communities is the alleged termination of $11 billion in public health funding on March 24, 2025. This money is the backbone for things like disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and local health programs. For the average person, this isn't just a budget line item; it’s the funding that keeps your local health department running during a measles outbreak or ensures there’s a plan in place if a new pandemic hits. The resolution claims these cuts were unlawful under federal code.

The Purge: Who Lost Their Jobs and Why It Matters

Beyond the funding cuts, the resolution details a massive reduction in federal staff, which directly impacts services people rely on. The Secretary is accused of pushing out 20,000 civil servants and firing 5,200 probationary workers right away. Even more concerning for vulnerable communities is the alleged elimination of staff from all 8 Offices of Minority Health across the department. These offices are mandated by law (like the Affordable Care Act and Public Health Service Act) to focus on health disparities in marginalized groups. When those teams vanish, programs addressing issues like high maternal mortality rates in specific populations or access to care for low-income families lose their champions and their funding streams. Similarly, the 35-40 percent staff cuts at the Administration for Children and Families put crucial services like Head Start and child protective services in jeopardy.

Science on the Sidelines: The ACIP Overhaul

Perhaps the most controversial claim relates to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—the group that determines the standard childhood vaccine schedule (Hepatitis B, Polio, etc.). The resolution alleges the Secretary fired all 17 existing members without cause in June 2025 and replaced them with only 8 handpicked members, some described as vaccine skeptics. This new panel immediately voted to revisit the established childhood vaccine schedule and recommended against multi-dose flu vaccines containing thimerosal. This move, coupled with the alleged firing of the CDC Director (Dr. Monarez) for refusing to approve unscientific directives, signals a shift where established scientific consensus is potentially being overridden by political appointments. For parents, this creates immediate uncertainty about the safety and stability of the vaccine guidance they rely on.

Research and Privacy Concerns

The resolution also highlights the termination of hundreds of research grants at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically targeting projects related to gender identity, diversity, Alzheimer's, and HIV prevention. This isn't just bad news for researchers; it means vital studies that could lead to new treatments or better understanding of diseases are abruptly halted. Finally, the resolution flags a potential privacy violation: the Secretary allegedly directed the NIH to launch an autism registry, raising concerns about how sensitive personal health data would be collected and protected, especially given the Secretary’s previous controversial comments about individuals on the autism spectrum.