Dr. Auri / Dr. Owry (CDC Chief Medical Officer) [name variants in transcript]

I first learned that the secretary had changed our CDC COVID vaccine guidance on an X social media post.

CDC scientists have still not seen the scientific data or justification for this change.

That is not gold standard science.

The Secretary's office ordered the removal from our website of the CDC scientific document on thimerosal, an additive to vaccines that science has shown is not linked to autism.

while allowing an unvetted presentation on thimerosal to happen at ACIP, containing scientific assertions that were not assessed for data quality and bias.

That kind of last minute alteration undermines confidence and the deliberations that follow and is certainly not radical transparency.

I never briefed him.

I accompanied him on a tour of CDC after the shooting.

You know, we would have loved to have had the conversations with him.

I offered to two different HHS leaders that we would like to brief the secretary.

He never received that.

And many times I would send emails to our leadership team to share with HHS when he did say things that weren't scientifically correct so that we could help support him.

But we, again, our requests were not received to brief him.

I always believe in optimism and hope, and I would say that was my hope when he started.

I'd read his books, and as a transition leader, I was prepared to welcome him.

After seeing his Senate finance testimony and the number of misstatements, seeing what he has asked our scientists to do and to compromise our integrity, and the children that have died under his watch, I think he should resign.

We did not brief Secretary Kennedy.

With CDC political staff, absolutely.

Our team did, like the chief of staff and our communications about measles.

And I did want to just follow up on your point about funding.