No White House Directive#
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed lawmakers on Tuesday, stating that the White House did not instruct him to refrain from discussing vaccines or other controversial issues as the midterm elections approach in November.
Focus on Nutrition and Food Safety#
During his fourth Congressional hearing this week, Kennedy emphasized the importance of nutrition and food safety in his opening remarks. However, he did not touch on his ongoing efforts to change national vaccination policies or investigate the causes of autism.
Direct Question on Vaccine Discussions#
Representative Marc Veasey, a Democrat from Texas, directly asked Kennedy if he had been told by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles or anyone else to stop discussing vaccine skepticism. Kennedy replied with a straightforward "no."
Context of Recent Reports#
Earlier this month, a Reuters report suggested that the White House had encouraged health officials to focus on more popular topics, especially as President Donald Trump and the Republican Party aim to maintain their narrow majorities in Congress. Kennedy, known for his long-standing anti-vaccine stance, faced a setback last month when a court ruling blocked significant parts of his efforts to change U.S. vaccine policy and reform a CDC advisory panel on immunizations.
Support from Allies#
Calley Means, a food policy adviser at the White House and a close ally of Kennedy, also denied any instructions for Kennedy and his team to avoid vaccine discussions. Means stated, "These are just ongoing conversations about where to prioritize on what’s leading to a problem in American healthcare. We’re not apologizing for what’s happened on vaccines." Kennedy also mentioned that he had vetted Erica Schwartz’s stance on vaccines before her nomination to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.