Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday that he would reject federal aid for Pennsylvania's measles outbreak until the CDC confirms four reported deaths. Speaking with CNN, Shapiro accused Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of directing the CDC not to acknowledge these deaths. The governor also expressed surprise at President Trump’s lack of action regarding the situation, which includes an upcoming anti-vax conference where Kennedy is scheduled to speak.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) announced Wednesday that he would refuse federal aid for Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms four reported deaths associated with the disease in the state. This decision stems from a public feud with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Shapiro accused of interfering with CDC reporting on the deaths, thereby downplaying the severity of the outbreak.
Pennsylvania has confirmed four measles-related deaths since August: an 18-year-old who died on Tuesday and another 40-year-old woman who passed away over the weekend. These fatalities were certified by both the Pennsylvania Department of Health and three independent coroners in the state, emphasizing their official recognition.
Shapiro’s stance underscores his frustration with what he perceives as federal obstructionism regarding the acknowledgment of these deaths, which he believes contributes to a lack of urgency in addressing the public health crisis.
Written for “Measles Aid Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said Wednesday he would refuse any federal aid for Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the four measles deaths reported in the state.
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Centers → say → state
Shapiro spoke with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins following a public feud with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the measles crisis in Pennsylvania.
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Shapiro → speak → Pennsylvania
Shapiro had blamed Kennedy for the severity of the outbreak and claimed the secretary was directing the CDC not to report the measles deaths.
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secretary → blame → deaths
“We will be happy to accept additional support to deal with this crisis, but I’m not going to accept that until RFK does what is right and stops reaching down into his administration and directing the CDC staff not to acknowledge the pain and suffering of these four families in Pennsylvania, and acknowledge those deaths, deaths that have not only been certified as measles-associated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, but also by three independent coroners here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.
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Shapiro → accept → Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has reported four measles-related deaths since August.
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Pennsylvania → report → August
An 18-year-old died on Tuesday, a 40-year-old woman died over the weekend, and two infants died last month, all of whom were not vaccinated.
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all → die → whom
Shapiro continued expressing his claim that Kennedy is the reason the deaths have not been reported by the CDC, adding that he is “surprised” President Donald Trump is allowing it to happen.
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it → continue → CDC
“RFK has reached down into his agency to take those names off the dashboard because it doesn’t meet his phony narrative,” Shapiro said.
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Shapiro → reach → narrative
“Quite frankly, Kaitlan, I’m surprised that the president of the United States is letting him get away with this.
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him → ’m → this
I’m surprised that the president of the United States, confronted with the first measles outbreak in over 2 1/2 decades, knowing that RFK is stoking this, knowing that his health secretary tomorrow is scheduled to speak at a big anti-vax conference, knowing that he’s doing all that, people are getting sick.
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people → ’m → that
I’m surprised he’s letting him get away with it.
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him → ’m → it
The conference Shapiro is referring to is held by the Children’s Health Defense, which was co-founded by Kennedy and is a leading force in the anti-vaccination movement.
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which → refer → movement
On Tuesday, Kennedy rejected Shapiro’s claims that he is barring the CDC from reporting the measles deaths, claiming the governor was politicizing the outbreak.
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governor → reject → outbreak
“Governor Shapiro has chosen to politicize this outbreak instead of implementing a unified public health response,” Kennedy said.
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Kennedy → choose → response
“He continues to point the finger at me and the federal government and to malign the Amish while refusing the federal assistance that might help end the outbreak.
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that → continue → outbreak
Still, Shapiro accused Kennedy of diminishing the severity of measles and recounted a phone call they had last month.
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they → accuse → call
“I believe it’s because it doesn’t meet his phony narrative,” Shapiro said on Wednesday.
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Shapiro → believe → Wednesday
“Look, he doesn’t believe that measles is an issue.
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measles → look → ?
When I spoke to him over the phone, he wanted to lecture me about natural measles, and, in many ways, making excuses.
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he → speak → excuses
He blamed Joe Biden for all of this.
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He → blame → this
I mean, he is someone who is not, I think, connected or grounded in reality.
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I → mean → reality
In Pennsylvania, the state Department of Health has reported 693 measles cases.
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Department → report → cases
The recent deaths are the first caused by the disease in the state in 35 years, raising concern that the U.S. could lose its elimination status.
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U.S. → cause → status
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