Incoming Michigan Senator Abdul El-Sayed has pledged to investigate Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding alleged staffing cuts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). El-Sayed contends these cuts contributed to the federal agencies' response to a large-scale cyclospora outbreak over the summer, which sickened thousands across the country.
"This is about understanding what happened, holding people accountable for what they did and then solving the problem moving forward," El-Sayed told CNN. He intends to examine the "decision-making" behind the cuts that he believes hampered the agencies' ability to manage food recalls and outbreaks.
The cyclospora parasite was traced to shredded iceberg lettuce, which was grown in central Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations in five states. Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily removed its iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market on July 17.
Michigan reported the highest number of cyclospora cases, with over 15,000 infections reported to the state's health department by late August. Nationwide, the CDC recorded more than 20,000 laboratory-confirmed infections from all sources, marking 2026 as a record year for the parasite.
In July, Kennedy had stated the outbreak was "under control" and dismissed claims that funding cuts had hindered the response. He clarified that while some programs, like FoodNet, experienced cuts, they were considered redundant. However, cyclospora was among the pathogens dropped from mandatory reporting by the CDC's FoodNet program in 2025 after its funding was reduced.
El-Sayed, who holds a medical degree, also criticized Kennedy's leadership at HHS, referring to it as "anti-science." The senator-elect's intent to probe Kennedy was also fueled by past remarks made by Kennedy, who El-Sayed claims has made "anti-Arab" statements. El-Sayed, who became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, has publicly challenged Kennedy, referencing his own academic achievements in contrast to Kennedy's lack of doctoral degrees.
Democrats regained control of the Senate in the recent election, granting El-Sayed and his colleagues subpoena power on committees beginning January 3, potentially enabling his promised investigation.