National Nurses United, the largest registered nurse union in the United States, has called for the resignation or removal of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The organization cited months of damaging decisions that undermined public confidence in national health institutions and weakened federal public health infrastructure.
The union issued a statement on 28 August 2025, declaring that the tenure marks a period of severe setbacks for public health. The statement particularly highlighted his stance against vaccines, the displacement of health workers, and politically-motivated decisions that eroded scientific integrity across agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Union President Mary Turner described the leadership of Kennedy as reckless and harmful. She argued that RNs nationwide have witnessed firsthand the consequences of poorly-informed health policies. Turner noted that nurses are committed to protecting patients and communities, while Kennedy risks their ability to effectively deliver safe and equitable health care.
A central element of the criticism concerned the recent Food and Drug Administration decision restricting updated coronavirus vaccinations to individuals older than 65 and those with preexisting conditions. The policy shift, viewed by nurses as dangerous, signaled the long-standing hostility of Kennedy toward vaccination during a continuing pandemic threat.
The firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez added fuel to widespread concern. According to her legal team, she was dismissed after refusing to endorse directives viewed as scientifically unsound. The National Nurses United labeled her removal as an example of political interference that undermines public trust and weakens public health leadership.
Former acting CDC Director Richard Besser voiced alarm about the dismantling of the leadership at CDC. He stated that the actions represent an unprecedented undermining of institutions tasked with protecting citizens. He furthered that the severity of these measures goes beyond previous mismanagement and constitutes a fundamental danger to national health.
The union placed significant emphasis on a series of damaging actions attributed to Kennedy. These criticisms, which RNs consider central to their demand for his removal, highlight policy decisions and directives that undermine scientific integrity, public health protections, and the workforce essential for national health security. Take note of the following:
• Worker Displacement and Program Cuts: Kennedy oversaw the displacement of federal health agency employees and approved sweeping budget cuts. The union argued that these decisions reduced American research capabilities and global leadership in discovery while weakening essential domestic health initiatives.
• Vaccine Misinformation and Restriction: He consistently advanced conspiracy theories regarding vaccines, despite overwhelming scientific evidence of their safety. The recent limitation of coronavirus vaccines to only high-risk groups was identified as an alarming decision that endangers public health and overall welfare.
• Politicization of Public Health Agencies: The dismissal of Monarez after her refusal to support unscientific directives underscored the politicization of health policy. The union noted that scientific decisions must never be subordinated to political agendas, especially during times of ongoing threats to national and global health.
The statement from National Nurses United reflects mounting discontent within the broader medical community. Nurses stressed that the erosion of scientific authority and public trust cannot continue if the U.S. is to maintain strong defenses against health crises. The organization urged immediate corrective measures, starting with the removal of Kennedy.
Similar calls from experts and political leaders have been publicized. Growing bipartisan concern underscores the seriousness of the situation. Moreover, with multiple CDC leaders resigning in protest and nurses nationwide sounding alarms, the union insisted that public health integrity must be restored to protect public health and millions of American lives.