Beshear asks Trump to remove RFK Jr. as health secretary, citing measles resurgence

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Nov. 12 asked President Donald Trump to fire Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Beshear referenced as the administration’s health secretary, citing what he described as a resurgence of measles as a reason for the personnel change. Beshear’s request was made in the context of public health concerns he said Kentucky residents could face if measles cases spread further.

In the request reported by Louisville Public Media, Beshear argued that Kentucky needs stronger leadership at the federal level on communicable disease threats, and he pointed to measles as an example of a preventable illness that can generate outbreaks. The governor’s framing tied federal health leadership decisions to the pace and effectiveness of outbreak prevention and response.

Beshear’s call centers on accountability within the federal health portfolio. By asking for the removal of the health secretary, the governor sought to make the personnel decision part of a broader public-health response, according to the report. He did not present new Kentucky-specific case figures in the reported account, but he anchored his argument to measles resurgence concerns.

The request also reflects Kentucky’s position as a state that includes major urban and school-centered communities where outbreaks can have rapid local effects. In his statement, Beshear tied measles risks to community exposure and the need for timely interventions, according to the report.

The governor’s action comes as measles remains a vaccine-preventable disease, and public health officials typically emphasize maintaining vaccination coverage and quickly identifying and containing cases. In the reported account, Beshear used that general public-health risk framework to support his argument that federal leadership should be changed in the face of resurgence concerns.

A decision by the White House would affect the composition of the federal health leadership team and could shift how national public-health priorities are communicated and administered. For Kentucky, any personnel changes at the top of the health department would be expected to influence how federal guidance and resources are coordinated with state efforts, particularly around disease prevention and response.

Following Beshear’s request, the next step would be whether the Trump administration responds publicly to the call for removal, and whether any change to the health secretary role is announced. Until that happens, the federal health secretary position remains in place, and Kentucky officials continue to manage day-to-day public-health operations within state authority.