In the tense hearing on Capitol Hill, Kennedy was challenged on his anti-vaccine views and maintaining public trust in health agencies. Meanwhile in Frankfort, Beshear was offering his own response in real-time, calling Kennedy unfit for the role.
"Secretary Kennedy should not be Secretary of HHS. He lacks qualifications and his guidance is dangerous," Beshear said.
Some of that guidance has included the rolling back of vaccine protocols.
"It will be the country welcoming back measles, mumps, small pox, polio. Those are terrible decisions that fly in the face of science," Beshear continued. "Listen, when you put your hand on a Bible and you swear to do these jobs, you've got to do them for the benefit of the American people and this person is dangerous in that job."
Kennedy has alleged that the federal government lied to the American public about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. In response, Dr. Stack repeated the message he's given for years: "Vaccines are safe and effective."
"There is no dispute among credible physicians and scientists that vaccines are one of the most important innovations humans have ever had to ensure that preventable illness is prevented, that people can live longer, healthier lives," Stack said. "On top of being a tragedy, it's negligence to undermine the public's confidence in something that has been proven for so long."
Since taking on the top health position, Kennedy has implemented changes at the CDC that have led to the firing of the director, mass layoffs, and the dismantling of a key vaccine advisory committee. Beshear called the decisions concerning and political.
"Listen, anybody who has to fire every single expert that's supposed to advise on something to get their way doesn't have a very good way," he added.
Because of Kennedy's recommendations, Florida is moving to end all childhood vaccine mandates. Currently in Kentucky, several vaccines are required for children to attend school, with religious and some medical exemptions allowed.