Previous CDC directors accuse RFK Jr. of endangering all Americans in NY Times essay

Four other senior CDC officials resigned, pointing to Monarez's removal, as well as Kennedy's vaccine policies, as the reasons for their exit. Additionally, hundreds of workers at the agency also walked out of the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta last month in support of their former colleagues.

The Times guest essay's authors - William Foege, William Roper, David Satcher, Jeffrey Koplan, Richard Besser, Tom Frieden, Anne Schuchat, Rochelle P. Walensky and Mandy K. Cohen - slammed Kennedy, stating he "has fired thousands of federal health workers and severely weakened programs designed to protect Americans from cancer, heart attacks, strokes, lead poisoning, injury, violence and more."

"Amid the largest measles outbreak in the United States in a generation, he's focused on unproven 'treatments' while downplaying vaccines," they wrote. "He canceled investments in promising medical research that will leave us ill-prepared for future health emergencies. He replaced experts on federal health advisory committees with unqualified individuals who share his dangerous and unscientific views."

They also blasted the secretary for ending U.S. support of global vaccination programs and justifying the move with "flawed research" and "inaccurate statements." Additionally, they said he supported federal legislation that would cause "millions of people with health insurance through Medicaid to lose their coverage."

The collection of former directors said that, because of these actions, rural Americans and people with disabilities will have less access to health care, lower-income Americans will have less access to treatment, and children could lose access to "lifesaving vaccines."

"Despite the overwhelming opposition of the medical community, Secretary Kennedy has continued his longstanding crusade against vaccines and his advocacy of conspiracy theories that have been rejected repeatedly by scientific experts," Sanders wrote.

HHS did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.