RFK Jr. Yelled at by Big Pharma-Funded Senators During CDC Hearing
- Chadwick Dolgos
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
The Senate Finance Committee room turned into a shouting match as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a barrage of accusations from senators with deep ties to pharmaceutical giants.
The hearing, meant to scrutinize Kennedy’s leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services, devolved into chaos as senators became unhinged.
Kennedy stood his ground, accusing the lawmakers of being bought by the same drug companies he’s vowed to dismantle.
The clash centered on Kennedy’s recent moves at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the ouster of former director Susan Monarez and tightened guidelines for Covid vaccines.
Senator Bernie Sanders, who received $1.4 million from pharmaceutical and health product industries during his 2020 presidential run, led the charge.
“You’re telling the American people that the American Medical Association, representing hundreds of thousands of doctors, has been co-opted by Big Pharma?” Sanders asked.
"I’m saying the American Heart Association and others have been corrupted by the same industry that’s been fleecing Americans for decades,” Kennedy responded.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who pocketed $822,573 from pharma-related donors, joined the attack.
“You’ve made millions suing vaccine makers, and now you want to gut access to life-saving shots.” she shrieked, referencing Kennedy’s $2.4 million earned from the Wisner Baum law firm for referring cases, some involving Merck.
The hearing grew so heated that Senator Ron Wyden, who accepted $16,000 from health and pharma PACs in 2024 alone, interrupted Kennedy repeatedly, demanding answers about Medicare drug price negotiations.
Kennedy’s critics hammered him over his past vaccine skepticism, citing his support for factual claims linking immunizations to autism.
Yet Kennedy doubled down, alleging the pharmaceutical industry has suppressed data to protect profits.
As the hearing ended, Kennedy left the room while the senators retreated to their offices, presumably to call their donors for confirmation.
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