Dangerous Harms to Public Health Protections

This timeline documents, in reverse chronological order , how public health protections have dramatically eroded since these dangerously unqualified health officials were handed power by the Pandemic Senators. For a much more detailed list visit the Kaiser Family Foundation by clicking here.

JULY 6, 2026

JULY 6, 2026

RFK, Jr. continues to block meetings of Preventive Services Task Force

For the fourth consecutive time, RFK, Jr. postpones meeting of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a body charged with recommending, based on current evidence, preventive screenings to be covered by health insurers at no cost to patients. The USPSTF has not met since March of 2025.

JUNE 25, 2026

JUNE 25, 2026

RFK, Jr. gives peptide promoters oversight of peptides

RFK, Jr. gives peptide promoters oversight of peptides

RFK, Jr., a longstanding proponent and user of peptides despite lack of evidence, has named to the compounding FDA advisory panel charged with reviewing them , individuals who benefit financially from their use.

RFK, Jr., a longstanding proponent and user of peptides despite lack of evidence, has named to the compounding FDA advisory panel charged with reviewing them , individuals who benefit financially from their use.

APRIL 2026

APRIL 2026

RFK, Jr. and functional CDC head Jay Bhattacharya leave 80% of top posts vacant

RFK, Jr. and functional CDC head Jay Bhattacharya leave 80% of top posts vacant

Following waves of terminations and resignations since RFK,Jr. was confirmed by the senate, the majority of top posts at the CDC are unfilled, prompting experts to warn of potentially dire impacts on Americans' health.

Following waves of terminations and resignations since RFK,Jr. was confirmed by the senate, the majority of top posts at the CDC are unfilled, prompting experts to warn of potentially dire impacts on Americans' health.

APRIL 22, 2026

APRIL 22, 2026

CDC suppresses data on COVID-19 vaccine

CDC suppresses data on COVID-19 vaccine

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, also serving as he functional head of CDC until a new director is confirmed, blocks publication of a scientific study demonstrating the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Update: Study later published outside of CDC sphere of influence (JAMA Network, June 2026).

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, also serving as he functional head of CDC until a new director is confirmed, blocks publication of a scientific study demonstrating the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Update: Study later published outside of CDC sphere of influence (JAMA Network, June 2026).

APRIL 1, 2026

APRIL 1, 2026

Updated ACIP charter weakens scientifically-based decision-making

RFK, Jr. updates the charter for ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) to eliminate some expert medical participants, add mechanisms for nonscientific input including known anti-vaccination players, strengthen political oversight and decision-making, among others.

RFK, Jr. updates the charter for ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) to eliminate some expert medical participants, add mechanisms for nonscientific input including known anti-vaccination players, strengthen political oversight and decision-making, among others.

MARCH 26, 2026

MARCH 26, 2026

CDC Director vacancy persists past legal deadline

CDC Director vacancy persists past legal deadline

Administration surpasses 180-day limit to operating without a confirmed CDC Director (following firing of Monarez in 2025).

Administration surpasses 180-day limit to operating without a confirmed CDC Director (following firing of Monarez in 2025).

FEBRUARY 18, 2026

NIH and CDC suffer diluted leadership as Jay Bhattacharya assumes dual role

NIH and CDC suffer diluted leadership as Jay Bhattacharya assumes dual role

Bhattachrya, already serving as the Director of NIH, assumes the role of Acting Director of CDC, thus dividing his time between two massive agencies as the vacancy in the top CDC role persists.

Bhattachrya, already serving as the Director of NIH, assumes the role of Acting Director of CDC, thus dividing his time between two massive agencies as the vacancy in the top CDC role persists.

JANUARY 22, 2026

JANUARY 22, 2026

U.S. formally withdraws from the World Health Organization

U.S. formally withdraws from the World Health Organization

One year after President Trump's Executive Order requiring U.S. withdrawal from WHO, the U.S. formally withdraws, thus ending its 78-year membership. The move isolates the U.S. from global cooperation and coordination of health-related information, preparation, and response, including for infectious diseases like Hanta Virus, Ebola , H5N1 "Bird Flu," COVID-19, and many more.

One year after President Trump's Executive Order requiring U.S. withdrawal from WHO, the U.S. formally withdraws, thus ending its 78-year membership. The move isolates the U.S. from global cooperation and coordination of health-related information, preparation, and response, including for infectious diseases like Hanta Virus, Ebola , H5N1 "Bird Flu," COVID-19, and many more.

JANUARY 22, 2026

JANUARY 22, 2026

RFK, Jr.-appointed chair of ACIP says vaccinations, including for polio, should be optional

RFK, Jr.-appointed chair of ACIP says vaccinations, including for polio, should be optional

Over the objections of health professionals and the American Medical Association, Kirk Milhoan, the RFK-appointed chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommends that the polio vaccine be optional.

Over the objections of health professionals and the American Medical Association, Kirk Milhoan, the RFK-appointed chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recommends that the polio vaccine be optional.

JANUARY 5, 2026

JANUARY 5, 2026

6 routine childhood vaccinations are eliminated including for meningococcal disease

6 routine childhood vaccinations are eliminated including for meningococcal disease

Vaccines that are no longer recommended as standard childhood care are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Influenza, Meningococcal disease, and COVID-19 — bringing the total number of routine vaccinations from 17 to 11.
Update: On January 19 the American Academy of Pediatrics and others sue CDC over vaccine changes and on March 16, 2026, Federal district court blocks these vaccine reductions and rules 13 RFK,Jr.-appointed ACIP panel members unlawful.

Vaccines that are no longer recommended as standard childhood care are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Influenza, Meningococcal disease, and COVID-19 — bringing the total number of routine vaccinations from 17 to 11.
Update: On January 19 the American Academy of Pediatrics and others sue CDC over vaccine changes and on March 16, 2026, Federal district court blocks these vaccine reductions and rules 13 RFK,Jr.-appointed ACIP panel members unlawful.

OCTOBER 2025

OCTOBER 2025

RFK, Jr. fires 600 more CDC staff amid internal confusion

RFK, Jr. fires 600 more CDC staff amid internal confusion

After 1,300 staff received termination notices about 700 were immediately rescinded leaving 600 in place, including those working on health statistics, chronic diseases, and more.

After 1,300 staff received termination notices about 700 were immediately rescinded leaving 600 in place, including those working on health statistics, chronic diseases, and more.

AUGUST 28, 2025

AUGUST 28, 2025

RFK, Jr. fires the head of CDC prompting multiple resignations

RFK, Jr. fires the head of CDC prompting multiple resignations

RFK, Jr. dismisses Centers for Disease Control Director Susan Monarez. At least four resignations of top CDC officials immediately follwed her dismissal.

RFK, Jr. dismisses Centers for Disease Control Director Susan Monarez. At least four resignations of top CDC officials immediately follwed her dismissal.

AUGUST 5, 2025

AUGUST 5, 2025

RFK, Jr. eliminates all funding for life-saving mRNA vaccine research

RFK, Jr. eliminates all funding for life-saving mRNA vaccine research

HHS eliminates funding for vaccine research using the mRNA platform, the revolutionary science that fast-tracks vaccine development when new infectious disease threats emerge.

HHS eliminates funding for vaccine research using the mRNA platform, the revolutionary science that fast-tracks vaccine development when new infectious disease threats emerge.

JULY 2, 2025

JULY 2, 2025

RFK, Jr. and Jay Bhattacharya stop emergency monitoring for bird flu

RFK, Jr. and Jay Bhattacharya stop emergency monitoring for bird flu

In the presence of declining rates of flu, CDC ends emergency response and roles surveillance into other routine programs, though experts warn further outbreaks risk human-to-human transmission.
Update: Rates of bird flu began increasing again in the fall of 2025, leading one expert to call it "completely out of control."

JULY 1, 2025

JULY 1, 2025

RFK, Jr. eliminates required surveillence for 6 foodborne pathogens

RFK, Jr. eliminates required surveillence for 6 foodborne pathogens

The CDC Foodborne Diseases Active Survellence Network (FoodNet) is no longer required to monitor six foodborne pathogents (Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia), leaving just two: Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

The CDC Foodborne Diseases Active Survellence Network (FoodNet) is no longer required to monitor six foodborne pathogents (Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia), leaving just two: Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

JUNE 2025

JUNE 2025

Veteran CDC AIDS researcher resigns under pressure to censor data

Veteran CDC AIDS researcher resigns under pressure to censor data

Longstanding AIDS researcher and expert Dr. John Weiser resigns from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) rather than succumb to pressure to censor scientific data.

Longstanding AIDS researcher and expert Dr. John Weiser resigns from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) rather than succumb to pressure to censor scientific data.

JUNE 25, 2025

JUNE 25, 2025

RFK, Jr. withdraws U.S. support for Gavi, the global vaccine alliance

RFK, Jr. withdraws U.S. support for Gavi, the global vaccine alliance

Citing unproven safety concerns, RFK ,Jr. ends U.S. financial support for Gavi, the 25-year global alliance credited with saving over 20 million lives, mostly children, through widespread vaccination programs.

Citing unproven safety concerns, RFK ,Jr. ends U.S. financial support for Gavi, the 25-year global alliance credited with saving over 20 million lives, mostly children, through widespread vaccination programs.

JUNE 9, 2025

JUNE 9, 2025

RFK, Jr. removes all 17 scientists from vaccine advisory panel (ACIP)

RFK, Jr. removes all 17 scientists from vaccine advisory panel (ACIP)

RFK ,Jr. fires the entire group of scientists serving on the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's )Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

RFK ,Jr. fires the entire group of scientists serving on the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's )Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

MAY 20, 2025

MAY 20, 2025

RFK, Jr. limits access to COVID-19 vaccines for healthy adults under age 65

RFK, Jr. limits access to COVID-19 vaccines for healthy adults under age 65

Citing unproven safety concerns, RFK, Jr. restricts access to the COVID-19 vaccine for people age 6 months to 64 years until additional clinical trials can be completed.

APRIL 2, 2025

APRIL 2, 2025

RFK, Jr. terminates 2,400 CDC staff in largest reduction in CDC modern history

RFK, Jr. terminates 2,400 CDC staff in largest reduction in CDC modern history

1 in 5 CDC staff terminated as part of a sweeping agency restructuring that weakened or eliminated work on prevention including smoking, drowning, gun violence, child safety, blood supply safety, lead poisoning, and much more. Some were immediately rehired once the full impact of the reductions was recognized.

1 in 5 CDC staff terminated as part of a sweeping agency restructuring that weakened or eliminated work on prevention including smoking, drowning, gun violence, child safety, blood supply safety, lead poisoning, and much more. Some were immediately rehired once the full impact of the reductions was recognized.

MARCH 31, 2025

MARCH 31, 2025

Funding withdrawn from 1 in 4 reproductive health clinics and programs

Grant support for family planning clinics under Title X is frozen, impacting 24% of all clinics, including Plannded Parenthood.
Update: Some funds were ultimately restored, but Planned Parenthood funds remain frozen.

MARCH, 25, 2025

MARCH, 25, 2025

RFK, Jr. cuts state and local public health funding

HHS and CDC pull back $11.4 billion in COVID-19 funding from state and local public health agencies where the resources were being used for, among other things, wastewater disease tracking for flu, measles, and COVID-19.
Update: 23 states who sued have seen funding restored, but other (mostly Republican) states have not.

MARCH, 17 2025

MARCH, 17 2025

NIH terminates HIV prevention research

All NIH grants focusing on PrEP (HIV prevention) are terminated, part of a suite of actions taken across HHS to dismantle offices and funding focused on HIV.

MARCH, 17 2025

MARCH, 17 2025

RFK, Jr. removes gun violence from Surgeon General warning

RFK, Jr. retracts prior Surgeon General's warning that gun violence is a public health crisis, despite robust evidence cited in the prior SG's report — not least, that it's the leading cause of death among children.

MARCH, 13 2025

MARCH, 13 2025

FDA relases flu vaccine guidance without input from expert panel

In a break from the past, guidance to industry on which viral strains should be the focus of vaccine development for the 2025-26 flu season is issued without convening the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee of outside experts.

MARCH, 2025

MARCH, 2025

RFK, Jr. fails to convene Preventive Services Task Force

RFK, Jr. fails to convene Preventive Services Task Force

Kennedy postpones sheduled meeting of the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) which is tasked with recommending, based on review of current evidence, preventive screenings to be covered by all health insurers at no cost to patients,.

JANUARY 22, 2025

JANUARY 22, 2025

Administration freezes NIH funding causing massive disruption and damage to research

Administration freezes NIH funding causing massive disruption and damage to research

NIH is brought to a standstill as funding is frozen and communications are halted, the opening salvo in what becomes an ongoing and damaging breakdown of US biomedical research — initiated by the White House and carried out by Jay Bhattacharya and RFK, Jr.
Update: Some of these actions have since been reversed or mitigated by Congress or the courts.

NIH is brought to a standstill as funding is frozen and communications are halted, the opening salvo in what becomes an ongoing and damaging breakdown of US biomedical research — initiated by the White House and carried out by Jay Bhattacharya and RFK, Jr.
Update: Some of these actions have since been reversed or mitigated by Congress or the courts.

Take Action!

Learn More

Take Action!

Learn More

©2026. PandemicSenators.com. All Rights Reserved.

©2026. PandemicSenators.com. All Rights Reserved.