A coalition of Democratic governors is making waves by establishing a new health alliance, one that aims to operate independently from federal oversight. This move stems largely from ongoing policy conflicts with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Wall Street Journal reported that “governors from 15 states, including New York, California, and North Carolina, have banded together to create a public-health alliance focused on disease threat detection and response, citing decreased federal funding and policy shifts from the Trump administration as catalysts for their initiative.”
In a statement reflecting the urgency of this situation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul remarked, “With the relentless onslaught on science and medicine from Washington, it’s imperative that governors take the lead. We find ourselves with no other option.”
Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom noted in a press release, “California proudly stands at the helm of this new alliance because the American public deserves a healthcare system where science supersedes politics. As extremist forces attempt to weaponize the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and peddle misinformation, we take the initiative to coordinate among states, safeguard our communities, and ensure that our decisions are anchored in data, facts, and the wellbeing of the American populace.”
Joining Hochul and Newsom are an array of governors, including Bob Ferguson of Washington, Josh Green of Hawaii, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, and others from states like Oregon, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Notable figures such as JB Pritzker of Illinois and Wes Moore of Maryland are also part of this coalition.
Ironically, several participants—like Hochul, Newsom, Pritzker, and Phil Murphy of New Jersey—have gained reputations for implementing some of the most stringent lockdown measures during the COVID pandemic.
In response to the formation of this alliance, a spokesperson from HHS remarked that Democrat-led states “have eroded public trust in health agencies through unscientific policies like school lockdowns and pediatric mask mandates.”
The spokesperson further argued, “HHS is committed to streamlining operations, eliminating wasteful and redundant entities to better serve the American people.”
Regarding his controversial decision to terminate CDC Director Dr. Susan Morarez, Kennedy stated in congressional testimony, “We are the sickest country in the world, which is why we have to make changes at the CDC. Those in charge failed to fulfill their core mission of keeping us healthy.”
RFK Jr: “We are the sickest country in the world. That’s why we have to fire people at the CDC.”
“They did not do their job. This was their job to keep us healthy, and I need to fire some of those people to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” pic.twitter.com/vwuyD2QAGS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 4, 2025
In an Axios/Ipsos American Health Index survey released in July, a majority of respondents showed a surprising alignment with some of Kennedy’s food safety agendas. A solid 56 percent expressed concern about “chemicals or unsafe additives in foods” being a significant risk to their health.
Moreover, 67 percent stated they feel that foods containing pesticides or artificial dyes are unsafe, even if approved by the FDA.
On the contentious issue of childhood vaccinations—an area where Kennedy advocates greater parental discretion—77 percent of those surveyed maintained that parents should adhere to the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedules. However, it’s important to note that strong agreement on this matter has dipped to 40 percent, down from 51 percent in an earlier survey, signalling a growing ambivalence across the political spectrum.
CNN data analyst Harry Enten pointed to a notable decline in public support for government-mandated vaccination schedules, citing a 30 percentage-point drop since 1991.
Fact check: RFK Jr. is actually the most popular member of Trump’s admin.
His tenure at HHS coincides with an unmistakable 30-point drop since 1991 in Americans’ desire for mandated child vaccinations.
This shift also comes amidst public sentiment that health officials were less than truthful throughout the COVID crisis. pic.twitter.com/vbmcKVj7F4
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) September 4, 2025
Historically, as early as 2019, support for mandatory vaccinations had already dipped to 62 percent. As Enten observed, “Today, only a slim majority still believes that the government should mandate vaccinations for children against infectious diseases.”
As we venture into this new chapter of public health governance, it appears that Democratic governors may find themselves at odds with Kennedy’s policies. Yet a notable fraction of the populace seems to endorse the notion that change within federal health agencies is overdue.
This article was originally published in The Western Journal.
