Robert F. Kennedy Jr. halts U.S. funding to the global vaccine alliance until they prioritize safety and rebuild public trust, directly challenging the medical establishment’s approach to vaccination programs worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the U.S. will suspend contributions to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, until it “re-earns public trust” and addresses safety concerns.
- Kennedy criticized Gavi for ignoring science when “inconvenient” and silencing dissenting views during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Gavi seeks $9 billion in funding for 2026-2030 to provide 500 million childhood vaccinations in developing countries.
- This decision could impact global vaccination efforts as the U.S. has historically contributed about 13% of Gavi’s budget.
- Kennedy’s testimony represents a major shift in U.S. health policy toward evidence-based vaccine safety under President Trump’s administration.
Kennedy Demands Accountability from Global Vaccine Alliance
In a decisive policy shift, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the United States will withhold funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, until the organization demonstrates a genuine commitment to vaccine safety and rebuilds public trust. During his testimony at a July 24 congressional hearing, Kennedy challenged the global health organization’s approach to vaccine safety and its handling of scientific evidence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. His testimony signals the Trump administration’s determination to ensure that American taxpayer dollars only support public health initiatives that prioritize safety and transparency.
“The United States won’t contribute anymore to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, until the global health organization has ‘re-earned the public trust,'” said the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
RFK Jr. has announced a full suspension of all U.S. funding to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, an organization co-founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Since 2001, the U.S. has contributed $8 billion to GAVI, while the Gates Foundation has provided $4.1 billion… pic.twitter.com/oW5KBYcXGd
— Paul White Gold Eagle (@PaulGoldEagle) June 26, 2025
Evidence-Based Approach to Vaccine Policy
Kennedy articulated a clear demand for Gavi to align its practices with scientific integrity, emphasizing that American funding would remain suspended until meaningful reforms are implemented. Since its establishment in 2000, Gavi claims to have vaccinated 1.1 billion children and saved 20 million lives in developing countries. However, Kennedy’s concerns focus on the organization’s handling of scientific evidence, particularly regarding vaccine safety monitoring and its recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when dissenting scientific voices were reportedly silenced.
“When the science was inconvenient, Gavi ignored the science,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
Kennedy delivered a clear roadmap for Gavi to regain American financial support, which has totaled approximately $8 billion since 2001. His call for the organization to “consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms,” represents a fundamental challenge to the institutional approach to vaccine policy that has dominated global health organizations. This stance aligns with President Trump’s broader commitment to reforming international organizations and ensuring American funds serve American interests and values.
Global Health Funding Implications
The potential withholding of U.S. funds presents significant challenges for Gavi, which is currently seeking $9 billion in funding for its 2026-2030 program. The organization aims to provide 500 million childhood vaccinations and claims this would save 8 million lives by 2030. The Biden administration had previously pledged $1.58 billion, but this commitment is now under review. As America has historically contributed about 13% of Gavi’s budget, Kennedy’s stance could prompt other donor nations to reconsider their support or demand similar accountability measures.
“I call on Gavi today to re-earn the public trust and to justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001,” he said. “And I’ll tell you how to start taking vaccine safety seriously: Consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms. Until that happens, the United States won’t contribute more to Gavi,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
While critics claim this decision could reduce vaccination campaigns in low and middle-income countries, supporters argue that meaningful reform of global health organizations will ultimately save more lives by ensuring that vaccination programs are built on sound scientific evidence rather than pharmaceutical industry influence. Kennedy’s testimony reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to challenging international institutions that have operated without sufficient accountability to American taxpayers and global public health outcomes.
Broader Health Agency Reform
Kennedy’s stance on Gavi funding aligns with his broader efforts to reform federal health agencies. During the same congressional hearing, he defended his reorganization of health agencies, including staff changes at the NIH and the replacement of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel with his appointments. Republicans have generally supported these reforms, with Representative Buddy Carter (R–GA) endorsing Kennedy’s approach by stating that “America needs a new prescription.” These changes reflect the administration’s focus on redirecting resources toward addressing chronic diseases while reducing spending levels that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The contentious hearing highlighted the stark contrast between the previous administration’s approach to global health funding and President Trump’s insistence on evidence-based policies that prioritize American interests. While Democrats criticized Kennedy’s actions, his testimony reinforced that vaccine policy under the current administration will be guided by scientific integrity, transparency, and genuine safety monitoring rather than institutional dogma. For millions of Americans concerned about vaccine safety and accountability in public health, Kennedy’s stance represents a welcome shift toward placing patient safety above institutional interests.
