A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. does not have the confidence of the Senate or of the American people to faithfully carry out the duties of his office and should be removed from his position.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 374
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S6330-6333)
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-30T10:56:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate Resolution (S. Res. 374) expresses the sense of the Senate that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has lost the confidence of the Senate and the American people due to alleged misconduct and failures in his duties. It calls for his removal from office to restore trust in the department's leadership.
Key Provisions
The resolution is structured as a non-binding statement of Senate opinion, supported by extensive "Whereas" clauses outlining specific grievances. These include:
- Anti-science and anti-vaccine actions: Accusations of firing experts, installing unqualified associates, and undermining vaccine access and trust, such as replacing members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with vaccine skeptics and canceling vaccine-related research and trials.
- Violations of statutory duties: Failures to comply with laws like the Public Health Service Act (requiring support for health promotion, research on minority health disparities, and preventive services), the Older Americans Act, and others governing programs for older adults, people with disabilities, and maternal health.
- Funding and staff reductions: Abrupt termination of $11 billion in public health funding to states, mass firings of over 15,000 employees (including probationary workers and staff from minority health offices), and cancellation of hundreds of NIH research grants, allegedly without regard for legal requirements or program impacts.
- Reorganization and purges: Illegal eliminations of offices (e.g., Offices of Minority Health, protected by law from termination without congressional approval), pauses or terminations of clinical trials (e.g., on HIV, diabetes, and vaccines), and targeting research on health disparities, gender identity, or diversity under pretexts.
- Public health harms: Contributions to a measles outbreak (with hundreds of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, mostly among unvaccinated individuals), downplaying vaccine safety, promoting unproven treatments, and spreading misinformation on topics like autism-vaccine links and MMR vaccine contents.
- Broader agenda impacts: Support for policies under Public Law 119-21 estimated to cut $1 trillion from healthcare, causing 15 million to lose insurance, thousands of preventable deaths, and risks to nursing homes, rural hospitals, and community health centers.
- Leadership failures: Firing or forcing resignations of key officials (e.g., CDC Director, FDA experts), rescinding transparency procedures (e.g., the "Richardson Waiver" for public input on rules), and hiring controversial figures to overhaul programs like vaccine injury compensation.
- Overall pattern: Described as deception, politicization of science, erosion of public trust, and personal agenda advancement, leading to lawsuits from 23 states, researchers, and others alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA, which requires fair processes for agency actions) and constitutional principles.
The resolving clause formally states that the Secretary should be removed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing law, as it is a "sense of the Senate" measure—a non-binding expression of opinion without legal force or effect. It does not amend statutes, appropriate funds, or mandate actions but highlights perceived violations of laws like the APA, Public Health Service Act, and constitutional provisions (e.g., Appropriations Clause).
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Could intensify scrutiny and lawsuits against HHS, CDC, NIH, and FDA, potentially disrupting operations, research, and services if it leads to congressional oversight or impeachment proceedings. It may exacerbate staff morale issues and program instability from ongoing reductions.
- On citizens: Risks further erosion of public trust in vaccines and health institutions, potentially worsening outbreaks (e.g., measles) and limiting access to preventive care, research on chronic diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, HIV), and support for vulnerable groups (e.g., minorities, pregnant women, people with disabilities). Estimated broader effects include healthcare cuts leading to insurance losses, hospital closures, and increased mortality.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though undermining U.S. vaccine leadership and research could affect global health collaborations, pandemic preparedness, and perceptions of U.S. scientific reliability.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- HHS leadership and employees: Directly targets Secretary Kennedy and implicates agency heads, scientists, and civil servants affected by firings or resignations.
- Public health experts and organizations: Includes CDC, NIH, FDA staff; research institutions; and groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, facing job losses, grant cancellations, and politicization.
- Citizens and vulnerable populations: Americans relying on HHS programs (e.g., vaccines, maternal health, disability services, elderly care); those with chronic conditions; unvaccinated or underserved communities at risk from outbreaks and reduced funding.
- States and local entities: 23 states suing HHS; public health programs in all states harmed by funding cuts and service disruptions.
- Congress and political figures: Sponsors (Democratic senators) versus the administration; broader implications for Senate confirmation processes and oversight.
- Advocacy groups: Autism organizations, vaccine safety experts, and health equity advocates opposing the Secretary's rhetoric and actions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: References multiple ongoing lawsuits alleging APA violations (e.g., arbitrary actions without proper notice or rationale), breaches of statutory mandates (e.g., prohibiting office eliminations without Congress), and unlawful funding terminations. The Government Accountability Office's findings on transparency rescissions could trigger Congressional Review Act challenges.
- Constitutional: Highlights potential violations of the Appropriations Clause (Congress controls spending) and separation of powers (executive overreach in reorganizations without legislative approval), emphasizing the Secretary's oath to uphold the Constitution.
- Political: As a partisan resolution (introduced by 24 Democratic senators and referred to the Finance Committee), it signals deep divisions over public health policy, nomination integrity, and science-based governance. It could fuel impeachment debates or demands for hearings, amplifying national discourse on vaccines, misinformation, and executive accountability, especially given the future-dated context (2025) amid a hypothetical administration.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Cosponsors (28)
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S6330-6333)
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Expressing the sense of the Senate that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. does not have the confidence of the Senate or of the American people to faithfully carry out the duties of his office and should be removed from his position. — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (18 pages)