Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was unrepentant Thursday about his shakeup of the nation’s public health agency and overhaul of federal vaccine policy, accusing a departed director and top medical organizations of lying.

Kennedy, testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, said he fired former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez because the agency desperately needed change. He was defiant even in the face of criticism from some Republicans on the panel who questioned his moves.

“It’s imperative that we remove officials with conflicts of interest and catastrophically bad judgment and political agendas,” Kennedy said.

The hearing Thursday was the first time Congress has publicly heard from Kennedy amid some tumultuous weeks at th

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