Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana directly blamed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a resurgence in vaccine-preventable illnesses. Cassidy shared a New York Times article on social media platform X on Thursday reporting that hospitals are seeing more cases of illnesses that vaccines typically prevent.
The Louisiana senator, a physician by training, pointed to Kennedy's leadership at HHS as the cause of the uptick. Kennedy took office as HHS secretary under President Trump and has been a prominent skeptic of vaccine safety and efficacy for years before his appointment.
The timing of Cassidy's criticism follows a Senate Finance Committee hearing where Kennedy faced intense questioning from multiple senators about how the administration has responded to a measles outbreak and the spread of vaccine misinformation. The US recorded 2,288 measles cases last year, the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated 25 years ago. Another 1,748 cases have already been reported this year, raising concerns among public health experts.
During the hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden criticized Kennedy's messaging on vaccines, stating: "When it comes to vaccines, Robert Kennedy has used this once-in-a-lifetime platform to make parents doubt themselves and doubt their doctors." Wyden added that Kennedy had "ducked, bobbed and weaved without taking the responsibility of saying what needs to be said: vaccines save lives in America."
When pressed about the measles outbreak, Kennedy denied responsibility. "I had nothing to do with the measles outbreak here," he said. "We have limited our outbreak better than any country in the world."
Public health specialists have argued that Kennedy failed to strongly promote vaccination and instead highlighted unproven treatments while the virus spread across state lines.
However, Kennedy appeared to shift his position during the hearing. When asked directly whether the measles vaccine is vital to keeping American children healthy, Kennedy responded: "That's my position. We promote the measles vaccine." He also stated: "We advise every child to get the MMR."
Cassidy's public criticism represents a notable rebuke of a sitting cabinet secretary from a member of the president's own party. The Republican senator had supported Kennedy's confirmation after receiving assurances that federal vaccine guidelines would be upheld, assurances that Cassidy has suggested were not fully fulfilled.
The criticism comes as the CDC continues to face significant disruption under Kennedy's leadership. About 80 percent of senior leadership roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remain unfilled, leaving no permanent leadership to guide policies affecting millions of Americans. According to current and former senior CDC officials, bureaucratic delays have slowed productivity in several areas, and disruptions in data collection have left the agency struggling to operate effectively.