Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) is sharply criticizing President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for what he calls an “ongoing purge” at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His statement comes after CDC staff and supporters staged a walkout to protest what they describe as politically motivated attacks on science.

“Whether it’s measles, bird flu, or COVID-19, our nation is no stranger to the devastating impacts of disease,” said Larson. “It is beyond shameful to watch this president and Secretary Kennedy take a wrecking ball to our public health system – firing top doctors, replacing scientists with anti-vax extremists, and forcing out the dedicated CDC workforce. President Trump promised to keep families safe, but instead he’s elevating conspiracies to enact political retribution. To see the CDC under threat like this should strike fear into the heart of every American. I stand with the brave public health professionals standing up to protest this chaos – even under threat of retaliation. We need leadership that understands vaccinations are life-saving, not life-threatening. Mr. President: End these games now.”

The criticism follows the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez, who refused to dismiss scientists for defending evidence-based research. Connecticut, which has the nation’s highest childhood vaccination rate at 98.3%, has so far avoided measles and polio outbreaks - successes Larson warns are now at risk.