Michigan Democrat to introduce impeachment articles against RFK Jr.: 'Unfit to serve'

A Michigan Democrat said she will draft articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., arguing that he is unfit to serve the American people. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) said, 'RFK Jr. is making our country less safe and making healthcare less affordable and accessible for Michiganders,' and added, 'Enough is enough – we need leaders who put science over chaos, facts over lies, and people over politics, which is why I am announcing today that I have begun drafting articles of impeachment against Secretary Kennedy.' This marks a new push in a contentious policy moment as Kennedy has drawn widespread criticism from lawmakers over vaccine policy and public health decisions.

Stevens outlined several focal points for the impeachment bid, pointing to actions she described as an 'abdication of duty' and a 'failure to carry out statutory duties of HHS in administering the FDA and CDC.' She said Kennedy has removed every member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel and accused him of politicizing the FDA. The articles, Stevens said, would also center on Kennedy's vaccine policies, which she described as 'severely restricting access to vaccines and spreading absurd conspiracies, putting lives in danger, and raising healthcare costs.'

Stevens further cited Kennedy's decision to withdraw federal recommendations for COVID-19 shots for pregnant women and healthy children and the cancellation of research related to mRNA vaccines. She also referenced so-called 'wild and unfounded claims' Kennedy had made at the White House linking acetaminophen to autism, describing it as 'an effort to limit access to Tylenol.' Additionally, Stevens asserted that Kennedy 'lied in his confirmation hearing' when he pledged before Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that he would leave the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel in place 'without changes.'

'Secretary Kennedy has violated his oath of office and proven himself unfit to serve the American people,' Stevens said. 'Congress must act to hold him accountable, and I intend to lead the charge to remove him from office.' The Hill and other outlets reported the remarks, though HHS did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.

The move represents a rare and historically significant step in which a member of the House would seek to remove a cabinet secretary through impeachment proceedings. Stevens indicated she intends to pursue the measure formally, framing it as a defense of scientific integrity, patient safety, and fiscal responsibility. The proposal comes amid ongoing partisan battles over public health authority, vaccine policy, and the federal government's role in funding medical research.

Observers note that impeachment proceedings against a cabinet secretary would require broad political alignment and would face substantial procedural and constitutional hurdles. While Stevens has made clear her intention to begin drafting the articles, no formal impeachment resolution has been filed, and it remains to be seen how her colleagues across party lines would respond or whether the measure would gain the five-seat threshold typically needed to advance such actions. The post, citing Stevens's office, emphasized that the initiative is intended to hold leadership accountable and to reaffirm a commitment to science-driven policy. As the political climate remains deeply polarized, this development adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate over health policy, regulatory oversight, and the use of impeachment as a tool in domestic policy disagreements.