In a fiery appearance before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that the federal government had “lied about everything” during the COVID-19 pandemic — a sweeping accusation that immediately drew condemnation from public health experts and deepened the controversy surrounding his leadership of the nation’s top health agency.

The exchange came during a hearing focused on President Donald Trump’s health care agenda. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, pressed Kennedy on whether he believed the pandemic had been politicized.

“The whole process was politicized, senator. I mean, we were lied to about everything,” Kennedy responded, his tone defiant and uncompromising.

Kennedy went on to allege that federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), misled the public about natural immunity, the ability of vaccines to stop transmission, and the effectiveness of masks.

“We were told vaccines would prevent infection, that masks would stop the spread. We were lied to about natural immunity, too,” Kennedy claimed.

Contested Claims

Many of Kennedy’s assertions were quickly flagged as false or misleading. Public health records show that no significant segment of the population was naturally immune to COVID-19 prior to contracting the virus or receiving a vaccination.

In early 2021, then-CDC Director Rochelle Walensky did make remarks suggesting that vaccinated people “do not carry the virus, don’t get sick.” She later clarified those comments, and official CDC guidance consistently stated that vaccines reduce — not eliminate — the risk of infection and transmission.

Mask recommendations also evolved as the virus spread and variants emerged. While the CDC promoted cloth masks early in the pandemic when medical-grade supplies were scarce, the agency later urged Americans to use N95 or KN95 respirators for stronger protection.

A Controversial Tenure

Kennedy’s remarks came less than 24 hours after more than 20 leading medical organizations called for his resignation, citing his “repeated efforts to undermine science and public health.” The groups, which included pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, and public health advocates, expressed alarm over his dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez last week.

Monarez’s firing, which Kennedy justified by accusing her of clashing with his vaccine policy, prompted the resignation of four senior CDC officials who said they could no longer maintain scientific integrity under his leadership.

Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic before joining Trump’s cabinet, has reshaped the nation’s health priorities since taking office earlier this year. He has narrowed vaccine recommendations long considered standard in the U.S. and dismantled key advisory panels, replacing them with his own appointees. The moves have triggered warnings from experts that the country could see surges in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio.

Political Calculations

The hearing underscored how Trump’s administration has turned pandemic management into a political litmus test. By elevating Kennedy, a figure who spent years questioning vaccine safety, Trump has doubled down on his promise to dismantle what he calls “the public health deep state.”

Supporters argue that Kennedy is giving a voice to Americans who felt silenced during the pandemic. His blunt style and willingness to accuse the government of deception resonate with segments of Trump’s base, particularly voters who opposed lockdowns and mask mandates.

But critics insist Kennedy’s rhetoric is dangerous. “To suggest the entire pandemic response was a lie is reckless and undermines trust in lifesaving measures,” said Dr. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “It risks pushing us backward just as we face another respiratory virus season.”

A Fight for Credibility

For Kennedy, the backlash is familiar. Before his cabinet appointment, he built a national profile as an anti-vaccine activist, frequently clashing with mainstream scientists and his own family members over his claims. Now, as the nation’s health secretary, those views carry the weight of federal authority.

Public trust in U.S. health institutions has already eroded in the wake of COVID-19, and Kennedy’s statements are adding fuel to the fire. Polling from Gallup earlier this year found that only 44 percent of Americans expressed “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the CDC, down from 73 percent in 2019.

Democrats on the Finance Committee seized on Kennedy’s testimony as proof he is unfit for the role. “This isn’t leadership, it’s sabotage,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. “The American people deserve science, not conspiracy.”

What Comes Next

Despite mounting pressure, Kennedy shows no sign of stepping aside. In interviews and on social media, he has portrayed himself as the target of a smear campaign designed to silence dissent. “I will continue to fight for transparency and accountability,” he posted on X following the hearing.

For now, his fate appears to rest on political rather than scientific grounds. Trump has fiercely defended his health secretary, framing the criticism as proof that Kennedy is disrupting entrenched bureaucracies.

But the stakes extend beyond partisan politics. With flu season approaching and vaccine hesitancy already on the rise, Kennedy’s words carry consequences that could ripple through hospitals, schools, and communities nationwide.

As senators filed out of the hearing room, one Democratic aide summed up the day’s tension: “This isn’t just about COVID. It’s about whether Americans can trust the government to tell them the truth in the next crisis.”