Democratic Lawmaker Accuses Kennedy of Endangering Public Health, Gutting Medical Research, and Violating Oath of Office

December 10, 2025 | Washington, D.C.- Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., formally introduced articles of impeachment on Wednesday against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., charging him with a series of actions that she alleges have undermined public health, increased healthcare costs, and jeopardized scientific progress. The move, which follows Stevens' earlier calls for Kennedy's resignation, faces steep odds in the Republican-controlled House but highlights deepening partisan divides over federal health policy.

In the articles, Stevens accuses Kennedy of failing to fulfill his statutory duties in overseeing agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), restricting access to vaccines, and implementing "reckless cuts" to critical medical research programs. She specifically points to the cancellation of $8.9 billion in federal research grants, including funding for pediatric cancer initiatives, sudden infant death syndrome studies, and addiction research, which she claims has "chilled medical innovation" and delayed lifesaving clinical trials.

"Secretary Kennedy has violated his oath of office and proven himself unfit to serve the American people," Stevens said in a statement released by her office. "His far-reaching and haphazard termination of working scientists, promotion of unproven claims, and ongoing threats to public health have cost lives and eroded trust in our health systems." The congresswoman, who represents Michigan's 11th District and is running for an open U.S. Senate seat, emphasized that her actions respond to pleas from pro-science advocacy groups warning of the dangers posed by Kennedy's 10-month tenure.

Stevens first announced plans to draft the articles in late September, citing "health care chaos" under Kennedy's leadership, including rising costs for Michiganders and the spread of what she described as "absurd conspiracies" that endanger lives. She had previously urged Kennedy to resign in mid-September following reports of slashed funding for vaccine development and other programs.

The impeachment effort arrives amid broader scrutiny of Kennedy's policies, including recommendations to alter childhood vaccination schedules and restrictions on vaccine access, which have drawn criticism from major medical organizations. Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic during his confirmation process, has defended his approach as prioritizing transparency and reducing overreach in federal health guidelines. In a statement to Fox News, HHS communications director Andrew Nixon dismissed the filing as a "partisan political stunt," adding that Kennedy "remains focused on the work of improving Americans’ health and lowering costs."

Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have been briefed on the proposal but are not formally endorsing it at this stage, according to sources familiar with the discussions. With Republicans holding a majority in the House, the articles are unlikely to advance beyond introduction, serving primarily as a symbolic rebuke rather than a viable path to removal. Impeachment of a Cabinet secretary requires a simple majority in the House for articles to pass and a two-thirds Senate vote for conviction, a threshold rarely met in polarized environments.

Public health experts have weighed in on the controversy. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher and member of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, described Kennedy's policies as "a setback for evidence-based medicine," while noting that ongoing litigation and congressional oversight could mitigate some impacts. Advocacy groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics have echoed concerns over cuts to child health programs, urging Congress to intervene.

Stevens' office released the full text of the articles as a PDF on its website, detailing specific allegations including abuses of power and contempt for scientific consensus. The document calls for Kennedy's immediate removal to restore stability to HHS operations. As the filing gains media attention, it is expected to fuel debates in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections, particularly in battleground states like Michigan where healthcare affordability remains a key voter issue.

No timeline has been set for House consideration of the articles, and Kennedy's office has not issued a direct response beyond the earlier statement.