RFK Jr. Grilled by Senate Over CDC Shakeup, Vaccine Policy

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a blistering bipartisan rebuke Thursday during a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing, as lawmakers from both parties questioned his sweeping changes to federal health agencies, particularly the CDC and vaccine policy.

The hearing came after a turbulent few weeks at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, disbanded the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, and canceled $500 million in federal contracts tied to mRNA vaccine research. Several senior CDC officials have since resigned, and vaccine access has reportedly declined in many states.

Kennedy defended his decisions as necessary reforms. “We are the sickest country in the world. That’s why we have to fire people at the CDC,” he told senators. “They did not do their job. I need to fire some of those people to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” He argued the agency had been compromised by political agendas and conflicts of interest.

But his remarks did little to calm critics—including some in his own party.

Republicans Break Rank and Push Back

While many GOP lawmakers expressed support for Kennedy, three high-profile Republicans broke ranks: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). All three voiced concern that Kennedy’s actions are undermining vaccine confidence and public health infrastructure.

Cassidy, who cast the decisive vote to advance Kennedy’s nomination earlier this year, said Kennedy’s moves are now restricting vaccine access. “Effectively, we are denying people vaccines,” Cassidy warned, referencing letters from doctors who say elderly patients can’t get updated COVID-19 shots.

He also questioned Kennedy’s praise of Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, which rapidly developed COVID-19 vaccines, given Kennedy’s history with anti-vaccine litigation and his decision to kill major mRNA funding efforts. “It surprises me that you think so highly of Operation Warp Speed,” Cassidy said, “when as an attorney, you attempted to restrict access to the COVID vaccine.”

Kennedy claimed that he initially supported the vaccines due to the high risk at the time, but later withdrew his support as the data evolved. He also defended appointing vaccine advisory panelists who had served as expert witnesses against pharmaceutical companies, saying their bias was acceptable “if disclosed.”

Democrats Blast Kennedy Over Public Health Leadership

Democratic senators sharply criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during Thursday’s hearing, accusing him of politicizing public health and breaking promises on vaccine access.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Kennedy had failed to keep his confirmation pledge to maintain vaccine availability. Sen. Mark Warner called him “ignorant” after Kennedy claimed not to know how many Americans died from COVID-19. Sen. Michael Bennet challenged Kennedy on appointing vaccine skeptics to the CDC’s advisory panel, warning it could lower childhood immunization rates.

Across the board, Democrats warned that Kennedy’s actions are damaging trust in federal health institutions at a time when credibility is already strained.

Monarez Fires Back

Just hours before the hearing, ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez published a sharply worded op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, accusing Kennedy of pressuring her to resign and politicizing public health. “It wasn’t about one person or my job,” she wrote. “It was a deliberate effort to weaken America’s public-health system and vaccine protections.”

Kennedy dismissed her claims outright and alleged Monarez told him she was not a trustworthy person.

States Split from Federal Guidance

Amid the turmoil, some states are distancing themselves from the CDC under Kennedy’s leadership. California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii announced a new “West Coast Health Alliance” to issue independent vaccine guidance based on their own scientific review. Northeastern states may soon follow suit.

Both CVS and Walgreens are scaling back COVID-19 shot availability this fall, citing federal policy changes and unclear guidance from the CDC. The practical result: some Americans, especially older adults and immunocompromised individuals, are struggling to get boosters.

Senate Committee Supports Title VIII Nursing Programs in FY 2026 Funding Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced the bipartisan FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS-ED) funding bill by a strong 26-3 vote, reaffirming federal support for critical nursing programs. A key highlight of the bill is continued investment in Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, which are vital to building and sustaining the nursing pipeline nationwide.

The bill allocates $303.472 million for Title VIII programs—a slight $2 million decrease from FY 2024—but maintains robust support for training, educating, and retaining nurses, including those who serve in school settings and in underserved communities. These programs directly impact Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), nurse educators, and students, helping to strengthen the nursing workforce where it’s needed most.

In addition, the bill maintains level funding of $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), supporting research that advances nursing science and improves patient outcomes.

The legislation also includes report language addressing workforce challenges such as the nursing shortage, workplace violence, mental health, rural health disparities, and the ongoing need for nurse faculty. There is also clear recognition of the importance of state-based nursing workforce centers as part of a long-term solution to staffing and education gaps.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recognizes the essential role Title VIII programs play in preparing nurses to meet the complex health needs of students and school communities. With Congress set to return in September to finalize the federal budget, continued advocacy will be critical to ensuring these programs remain fully funded and protected. Please join NASN in advocating on behalf of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593), introduced in Congress. This legislation would reauthorize the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs through FY 2030.

AAP Releases Independent Immunization Schedule, Drawing Fire from RFK Jr.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released its own immunization schedule for children and adolescents, breaking from the CDC’s recommendations in the wake of controversial changes made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The updated guidance, published on August 19 in Red Book Online, includes recommendations on COVID-19, RSV, and flu, and comes amid growing concern over political interference in vaccine policy.

The AAP’s schedule strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all children ages 6 to 23 months, as well as for older children in high-risk groups or whose families seek protection. This contrasts with the CDC’s softer position, which now advises families of healthy children to consult their pediatricians—a shift that followed Kennedy’s removal of COVID-19 vaccines from the routine childhood schedule.

Tensions have escalated since Kennedy replaced all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with individuals who have promoted vaccine skepticism. The AAP and other medical groups have criticized these moves as undermining the scientific integrity of national vaccine guidance.

Kennedy responded to the AAP’s independent recommendations by accusing the organization of being influenced by pharmaceutical donors, citing contributions from companies like Pfizer and Moderna. He also suggested doctors following AAP guidance could face legal liability, since COVID-19 vaccines are not covered under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly called the accusations “unfortunate” and reaffirmed that the organization’s recommendations are based solely on scientific evidence and the health needs of children. “Pediatricians know how important routine immunizations are in keeping children, families, and communities healthy,” she said.

Despite their differences, both the AAP and CDC continue to support COVID-19 vaccination for children with underlying health conditions. However, the AAP’s more proactive stance highlights a growing divide between the medical community and the current federal leadership.

As children return to school and fall vaccination campaigns begin, the split may cause confusion for parents and complicate vaccine access—while also raising broader questions about the future role and credibility of advisory bodies like ACIP.

Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Student Disability Rights

On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, holding that students bringing disability discrimination claims under the ADA and Section 504 are not required to prove “bad faith” or “gross misjudgment” by school officials. Instead, the Court affirmed that the same “deliberate indifference” standard used in other disability discrimination contexts applies in education cases as well.

The case involved A.J.T., a student with a rare form of epilepsy that caused severe morning seizures. After transferring schools in 2015, her new district refused to accommodate her request for evening instruction. An administrative law judge found the district violated the IDEA, but when A.J.T. later sued for compensatory damages under the ADA and Section 504, the lower courts dismissed the case, citing failure to meet the higher “bad faith” standard.

Chief Justice Roberts, writing for a unanimous Court, overturned the Eighth Circuit’s decision and remanded the case. The Court emphasized that the IDEA does not limit the remedies available under the ADA or Section 504 and found that imposing a higher standard in education-related claims was inconsistent with the text and purpose of those laws.

The ruling is a major win for students with disabilities and removes an unjust legal barrier that had made it harder for families to seek relief for discrimination in schools. Disability rights advocates, including COPAA, the Education Law Center, and Georgetown Law, supported the case through an amici brief urging the Court to reject the heightened standard.

This decision builds on the Court’s 2023 ruling in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, reaffirming the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensuring more equitable access to legal remedies when schools fail to provide reasonable accommodations.

In 2021, 38.4 million Americans, or 11.6% of the population, had diabetes. Two million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, including about 304,000 children and adolescents. (Source: American Diabetes Association)

Educating Families on Type 1 Diabetes: How School Nurses Can Make a Difference

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Without insulin, blood sugar cannot be regulated properly.

T1D progresses in three stages. For many families, a T1D diagnosis comes suddenly—often not until Stage 3, when symptoms typically appear and insulin dependence begins. In many cases, undiagnosed T1D can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life-threatening complication.

While T1D cannot be prevented, it can be detected years before symptoms —in Stages 1 and 2—through screening for T1D autoantibodies. Early detection helps families prepare, monitor, and begin care, before symptoms appear and potential complications occur.

T1D Legislative Action

Legislation has been passed in 16 states requiring the state’s Department of Education to post T1D educational information on their websites and share it with schools. The following states have already enacted a T1D education law: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.

Advocates are working every day to expand this list. School nurses are uniquely positioned to help by:

• Sharing T1D educational materials with families
• Identifying students who may be at risk, especially those with a family history of T1D or other autoimmune diseases like celiac disease or Hashimoto’s disease
• Connecting families with screening and support resources
• Reaching out to the Department of Health and/or the Department of Education to ask them to post information about T1D, as required by law

To check on the status of T1D education legislation in your state and to access more information about new legislation, including printable fact sheets, go here.

NASN has launched this Toolkit and educated over 400 SNs about T1D screening in Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2024, with the Affiliate boards in both states. This year, NASN is working with the Maryland Affiliate to educate SNs on the Toolkit and T1D screening and is piloting the Toolkit in two school districts in Maryland.

State-by-State Legislation

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