American Oversight Demands Release of Purported Recording of Kennedy-Monarez Meeting Sparked by Potential Changes to Childhood Vaccine Recommendations

Thursday, American Oversight filed a Freedom of Information Act request for recordings of any meetings between former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. against the backdrop of discussions surrounding harmful proposed changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and the pre-approval of recommendations from the vaccine advisory board without scientific review.

At Wednesday’s U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) hearing, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (OK) alleged the existence of a recording that he said showed Monarez had purportedly lied about her interactions with Kennedy. Though Mullin later walked back his recording claims, HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) said the issue needed further clarification “in case [Mullin is] mistaken that he was mistaken,” adding, “if there is a recording, it should be released.”

“At a time when Secretary Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda has already undermined public health leadership and put the lives of millions of children at risk, the American people deserve nothing less than full transparency,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “An accusation was made that this Administration’s own CDC director lied repeatedly and there was a recording to prove it — an oddly specific allegation of untruthfulness to see walked back so soon after being made. We agree with Chairman Cassidy: if there is a recording, it should be released without delay so the public can judge the whole story for themselves.”

Mullin’s recanted recording allegation sought to undermine Monarez’s testimony that she was fired after less than a month in office because she refused a directive from Secretary Kennedy to pre-approve every recommendation of a reconstituted vaccine advisory committee regardless of scientific evidence, and to dismiss career scientists involved in vaccine policy without cause. She also warned of potential harm to vaccine access and public health if vaccine guidance is driven by ideology rather than transparent scientific review, particularly under the newly selected advisory panel whose membership she says lacks adequate expertise.

Monarez’s sworn Senate testimony kicked off a critical week for U.S. vaccine policy with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) — controversially remade by Kennedy earlier this year — meeting today and tomorrow to vote on vaccine recommendations.

American Oversight previously launched an investigation into Kennedy’s politically motivated ousting of Monarez. Today’s FOIA expands that inquiry by demanding the release of all edited and unedited audio and video recordings, and transcripts thereof, of any meeting attended by, at a minimum, Monarez and Kennedy, including, but not limited to, the recording referenced by Mullin.