Babin Champions RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Committee Change

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. (I) announced this week the removal of all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The decision has received blowback from some, but Republicans like Rep. Brian Babin (R) are championing it as a step in the right direction.

Secretary Kennedy announced the membership removal this week, citing a need to restore public trust. The committee, which plays a critical role in guiding national vaccine recommendations, will now be entirely reconstituted with new members currently under review.

In a statement, Secretary Kennedy said that the administration is “prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda.” “The public must know that unbiased science—evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest—guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”

The removal follows President Donald Trump’s (R) “Restoring Gold Standard Science” executive order, which directs federal scientific bodies to adopt rigorous, transparent standards free from ideological or corporate influence. Thirteen of the current ACIP members were appointed by the Biden Administration in 2024, leading Secretary Kennedy to argue that a “clean sweep” was necessary to reset the committee’s credibility and independence.

Rep. Babin, Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, responded to the announcement with high praise. “Hats off to RFK Jr. for dismantling the CDC vaccine panel,” he wrote on X. “No more pharma puppetry or experimental vaccines, trust must be rebuilt!”

Secretary Kennedy further emphasized that the goal of the removal is not to undermine vaccines but to ensure that public health decisions are based on sound, impartial science.

“ACIP’s new members will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine,” He expressed. “The Committee will no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas.”