Democrats Target Impeachment of HHS Secretary Kennedy Amid MAHA Coalition Push
New congressional leaders plan to investigate the health secretary's policies while simultaneously courting his grassroots supporters for legislative votes.
By Madison Darwish ·
With the Democratic Party set to control both chambers of Congress in January, a strategic tension has emerged between holding the current administration accountable and building a new electoral coalition. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stands at the center of this conflict, facing calls for impeachment from senior Democrats even as they seek to win over his Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, followers.
Kennedy, who ran for president as an independent in 2024 before supporting Donald Trump, has overseen major changes at the Department of Health and Human Services. His tenure includes sweeping staffing cuts and the elimination of scientific study areas deemed focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These moves, combined with a departure from standard vaccine protocols, have drawn sharp criticism from the party he joined in 2022.
The push for formal action is gaining momentum among the incoming class. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina stated on CNN that Kennedy should be a high-priority target for House impeachment next year. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who will chair the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, told the network he is absolutely open to the idea. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, likely to lead the House Judiciary Committee, has vowed to investigate the secretary's wrongdoing.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is expected to chair the Senate Finance Committee, launched two investigations into Kennedy this week. One probe examines the accuracy of Kennedy's testimony regarding a 2019 trip to Samoa. The other looks into his reported acceptance of hundreds of thousands of dollars in lavish gifts. Wyden told The Associated Press that he plans to hold the administration accountable for actions that have harmed children and raised health costs.
Despite the push for investigations, many Democrats are working to maintain relationships with MAHA activists. Groups led by Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey are developing proposals on regenerative agriculture, healthy school lunches, and pesticide liability. These issues align with the core interests of Kennedy's base, which has grown frustrated with the Trump administration over recent executive orders that boosted pesticide use.
McGovern said he has been clear with MAHA leaders that the party needs to hold Kennedy accountable for broken promises. He claimed that the leaders he speaks with quietly agree and are ready to move forward to fix the status quo in Washington. Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who called Kennedy a grifter, said he is willing to collaborate if the secretary remains evidence driven in future policy decisions.
The balance between accountability and coalition building will be tested by the need to lower health costs for a wider electorate. Democrats plan to vote quickly to reinstate Affordable Care Act tax credits that expired in late 2025. They also aim to reverse Medicaid funding reductions and work requirements enacted in recent Republican legislation. Matt Motta, a professor at Boston University School of Public Health, noted that reducing healthcare prices is the primary goal for independent and swing voters who supported the Democratic sweep in last week's elections.
