Senator Cassidy says HHS Secretary Kennedy broke promises

Senator Bill Cassidy, the outgoing Republican chairman of the Senate health committee, has launched a sharp public critique of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of violating promises made during his confirmation and running the nation’s public health system on a “foundation of lies.” Cassidy made the remarks in a pre-taped interview for CBS’s “Face the Nation” that was conducted on June 25 and broadcast over the weekend.

Cassidy, a physician who provided the key vote to advance Kennedy’s nomination last year, stated that commitments made to him have been broken. He specifically cited a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that states “Vaccines do not cause autism” but includes an asterisk and footnote indicating the statement remains only due to an agreement with Cassidy. The page’s text raises questions about the claim’s evidence. Cassidy called this a broken agreement and said it undermines public trust.

When asked if Kennedy has restored trust in public health, Cassidy said he has not, but noted that polling shows Americans understand vaccines are important. He pointed to ongoing measles outbreaks involving thousands of...