House and Senate Democrats are urging President Trump to rescind his Aug. 10 executive order on childhood vaccinations as a measles outbreak reaches a 35-year high. More than 90 Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, signed a letter criticizing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for overhauling the immunization schedule and replacing "decades of scientific evidence" with anti‑vaccine ideology. The letter—obtained by NBC News—warns the order will lower vaccination rates, increase outbreaks, raise health-care costs and disrupt schools. Republicans have been largely silent, though Sen. Bill Cassidy publicly condemned the move.
Democrats Demand Trump Rescind Vaccine Order As Measles Reach 35-Year High
House and Senate Democrats are calling on President Donald Trump to rescind his Aug. 10 executive order that changes federal policy on childhood vaccinations, citing a measles outbreak that officials say has reached a 35-year high.
Lawmakers, Science And Public-Health Concerns
More than 90 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), signed a letter accusing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—a noted vaccine skeptic—of overhauling the childhood immunization schedule and "substituting anti-vaccine ideology for decades of scientific evidence." The letter warns that the executive order undermines evidence-based public health policy and endangers children.
"Every day this Executive Order remains in effect, more children go without the vaccines that would protect them, additional outbreaks become more likely, and lives are put at risk," the lawmakers wrote.
NBC News obtained the letter, which was sent Monday evening. Signatories argued that the policy will not make children safer or healthier; instead it will drive down vaccination rates, lead to recurring disease outbreaks, raise health-care costs, and disrupt schools—causing learning loss.
Political Response
While the letter includes no Republican signatories, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.), a physician, publicly criticized the order and on Sunday called it "a stupid thing to do." The dispute highlights tensions between elected officials, public-health experts, and the administration over vaccine policy during a growing measles outbreak.
What’s next: The Democrats urged the president to revoke the order immediately and restore evidence-based decision-making in federal public health policy to protect children and contain the outbreak.
Help us improve.
