Amna Nawaz
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WATCH: Warnock criticizes RFK Jr. for CDC cuts to rabies emergency line
Posted
April 22, 2026
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April 22, 2026
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2:16Now PlayingSen. Raphael Warnock, R-Ga., criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wednesday for cuts to the nation’s public health infrastructure, including infectious disease treatment, testing and prevention.
Warnock specifically called out Kennedy for cuts to a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that deals with cases of rabies, a viral disease that’s contracted through bites and scratches from infected animals, such as skunks, bats, foxes and raccoons. The disease is fatal in humans if it’s left untreated.
“Staff at the CDC rabies division in Atlanta, Georgia, have historically been able to field emergency calls 24/7 from providers about complex rabies cases using CDC expertise to determine appropriate care,” Warnock said. “Secretary Kennedy, since you and President Trump took office, do you know how many people are left to staff this 24/7 line?”
Kennedy said he did not know. The answer, Warnock said, is one person.
Warnock praised the staff at the CDC for protecting Americans “every day from the threats that we don’t see.” He then criticized Kennedy for cutting the infectious disease coverage operations at the agency.
Earlier this month, the CDC paused its laboratory diagnostic testing for rabies, mpox and other infectious diseases.
“Personally, sir, even as you seem distracted while I talk to you about deadly diseases, I think you're dangerous to the American public, and you ought to be fired,” Warnock told Kennedy. “If you're not fired, you ought to have the decency to resign. You’re way in over your head.”
Kennedy was expected to face questioning about his controversial changes to vaccine policy, as well as new dietary guidelines and proposed Medicaid cuts. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician, committee member and influential chair of the Senate Health Committee, will have opportunities in two hearings Wednesday to press Kennedy, whose approach to vaccines he’s criticized in the past.
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