On December 10, 2025, Michigan Democratic Representative Haley Stevens ignited a political firestorm by filing articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of undermining the nation’s public health system and betraying his constitutional oath. The move, widely seen as a bold yet uphill battle, comes as Stevens positions herself for a 2026 Senate campaign—and as Kennedy’s tenure continues to provoke fierce controversy across the political spectrum.
Stevens leveled a barrage of allegations against Kennedy in her official statement and on social media, charging that he "has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people — spreading conspiracies and lies, driving up costs, and putting lives at risk." According to The Western Journal, Stevens’ articles of impeachment assert that Kennedy "has abused the powers of his office and failed to faithfully execute the laws of the United States, in violation of his constitutional oath and his duty under Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution." The documents further claim, "By doing so, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has imperiled the health and safety of the American people, eroded public confidence in the Nation’s public health institutions, and stalled decades of scientific and medical progress."
Stevens, who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat in 2026, insisted her actions were not politically motivated. "I am not one for political theater," she told The New York Times. "I am for standing up for the health and safety of the people I represent. It’s pretty clear that these are life-and-death issues for folks." She doubled down in a video posted to X, declaring, "RFK Jr. has got to go. Today I introduced articles of impeachment to remove him from office. RFK Jr has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people. Under his watch, families are less safe, health care costs are skyrocketing and life saving research, including right here in Michigan, is being gutted. RFK Jr is the biggest self-created threat to our health and safety. I cannot and I will not stand by, while one man dismantles decades of medical progress. Enough is enough. And that is why I'm pushing to impeach RFK Jr, to hold him accountable and to protect the health, safety and future of every Michigander. Because our health, our science, and our future are worth fighting for."
The impeachment articles detail a litany of grievances, including Kennedy’s restriction of vaccine access, cancellation of grants, firing of scientific staff, and what Stevens described as "far-reaching, haphazard reduction in force." According to Newsweek, Kennedy’s policies led to the firing of 600 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) employees in August 2025 and the controversial dismissal of CDC Chief Dr. Susan Monarez, replaced by Kennedy’s deputy Jim O’Neill. These moves, along with the cancellation of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines, have sparked outrage among health officials and lawmakers alike.
Stevens’ case is bolstered by warnings from the medical establishment. According to Politico, six former U.S. surgeons general penned a letter condemning Kennedy’s agenda for "harming national public health by sidelining science and damaging morale within health agencies." The impeachment articles also criticize the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of a version of leucovorin for children with autism, alleging insufficient scientific evidence and violations of administrative procedures.
Adding to the drama, Kennedy is no stranger to controversy. Before joining President Donald Trump’s cabinet in February 2025, he was known as a prominent vaccine skeptic and led an anti-vaccine group. His tenure as HHS Secretary has been marked by the firing of the government’s main vaccine advisory panel, slashing of research budgets, and promotion of debunked claims about vaccine safety and water fluoridation. According to Politico, Kennedy has "removed public input from some rulemaking" and "upended longstanding federal health policy."
Despite the furor, the impeachment effort faces daunting odds. With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate, and even senior Democrats showing little appetite for a full impeachment battle, most observers see the move as unlikely to advance beyond the committee stage. As The New York Times put it, Stevens’ effort is "an all but certainly futile bid." Some Democratic colleagues reportedly view the impeachment as a politically motivated gambit to boost Stevens’ Senate campaign, especially as she faces a heated primary with challengers further to her left. Stevens, for her part, flatly denies the charge.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, dismissed the impeachment as a "partisan stunt" and insisted Kennedy "remains focused on the work of improving Americans’ health and lowering costs, not on partisan political stunts that have no merit." In another statement to Politico, Nixon sharpened the attack: "Kennedy remains focused on improving Americans’ health and lowering costs, not on partisan theatrics designed to elevate standing in a failing, third-rate Senate bid." Kennedy himself has yet to publicly respond to the articles of impeachment.
The controversy has not gone unnoticed by the White House. President Trump, speaking after Kennedy’s September 2025 testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, offered a measured defense. "It’s not your standard talk. I would say that, and that has to do with medical and vaccines," Trump remarked, according to Newsweek. "But if you look at what’s going on in the world with health, and look at this country also with regard to health—I like the fact that he’s different."
Public opinion on Kennedy is sharply divided. Polling shows that while Kennedy remains highly favorable among Republicans, almost 90 percent of Democrats disapprove of his agenda. Most Americans, regardless of party, support vaccine availability for those who want them. Kennedy’s controversial moves have left him with "damning poll numbers," as Politico noted, with trust in his leadership at a low ebb among the general public.
The impeachment push against Kennedy is not occurring in isolation. Other administration figures have also faced calls for removal. Michigan Democrat Shri Thanedar has filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Texas Democrat Al Green has revived efforts to impeach President Trump, citing concerns over separation of powers and presidential conduct.
In the Senate, Kennedy’s policies have drawn bipartisan scrutiny. Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso, himself a physician, confronted Kennedy during his confirmation hearings: "I'm a doctor. Vaccines work. Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines. Since then, I've grown deeply concerned."
As the dust settles, the fate of Stevens’ impeachment effort seems all but sealed. The Republican-controlled House is unlikely to advance the articles, and Democratic leadership has shown no sign of rallying behind the cause. Yet the episode has laid bare the deep divisions—within Congress and across the country—over science, public health, and the limits of executive authority. For now, Kennedy remains in office, but the battle over his legacy, and the future of American public health policy, is far from over.
