Sen. Ben Ray Lujan Criticizes HHS Secretary RFK Jr.'s Performance on Autism Study and Expert Briefings

Scrutiny Over Expert Briefings

• 🎯 Dr. Dascalakis, former director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, stated he and his team were never allowed to brief Secretary Kennedy.
• ❓ Senator Lujan questioned who Secretary Kennedy is listening to if not qualified experts, asking for the name of a specific briefer.
• 🗣️ Secretary Kennedy initially stated he was briefed by the CDC, but when pressed for a name, offered Dr. William Thompson.

Controversy Surrounding Autism Study

• ⚠️ A study claiming to reveal the cause of autism, timed with an upcoming ASIP meeting, was discussed.
• 👨‍🔬 Senator Lujan questioned the hiring of David Guyer to conduct this study, noting his background and past legal issues.
• 💻 Despite claims he was a contractor not conducting the study, Guyer was identified on the HHS website as a senior data analyst.
• 📜 Lujan pressed for confirmation on Guyer's role and access to the vaccine safety data link, which Kennedy stated Guyer was the only outsider to have seen.

Transparency and Protocols

• 🤝 Senator Lujan requested a commitment to share the protocols for the autism study with Congress and the public.
• 🗓️ Kennedy initially refused to commit to sharing by the end of the week, stating protocols are publicly available once published with the study.
• 🚫 A request for a subpoena to obtain the protocols was rejected by Secretary Kennedy.

Senator Lujan's Closing Remarks

• 📌 Senator Lujan expressed disappointment with Secretary Kennedy's performance, calling it a "failure".
• ⭐ He referenced a starfish pin, symbolizing making a difference, and stated that based on the day's questioning, he did not believe Kennedy deserved it.
• 🙏 Lujan concluded by stating he would pray for Secretary Kennedy and hoped for better performance in the future.