Sen. Bill Cassidy accused Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of abandoning vaccine commitments on Tuesday, warning that current federal policies are fueling a resurgence of preventable diseases.
Broken Promises and Rising Cases
Cassidy expressed anger that Kennedy Jr. had not honored assurances made during his confirmation process before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The Louisiana senator linked recent spikes in measles cases and child fatalities to the administration’s messaging and policy shifts regarding immunization.
“This is not making America healthy again,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy warned that eroding public confidence in vaccines could carry a political cost for Republicans if controlled diseases return to communities where they had been absent for decades. He pointed to upcoming elections as the mechanism for holding the administration accountable for these health outcomes.
Retirement and FDA Nomination
The criticism comes as Cassidy prepares to retire at the end of the year after losing his primary election to a Republican challenger supported by President Donald Trump. During the same appearance, Cassidy was asked about President Trump’s nomination of Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration.
Cassidy declined to state whether he would support Overton’s confirmation, noting that a hearing on her nomination is scheduled to take place. He did not offer further commentary on the FDA leadership transition or its potential impact on vaccine policy.