Cassidy accuses RFK Jr. of building public health "upon a foundation of lies"

Senator Bill Cassidy has strongly criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., accusing him of undermining public health through vaccine skepticism and violating commitments made to secure his confirmation vote. Cassidy, a medical doctor and chair of the Senate health committee, stated on "Face the Nation" that Kennedy built public health initiatives "upon a foundation of lies."

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If you build public health upon a foundation of lies, then you're going to have the absence of adequate public health.

Cassidy revealed that he cast the deciding vote to advance Kennedy's nomination last year because the alternative was allowing Kennedy to operate as a White House health czar without congressional oversight. "Either he was going to be in a position where there were guardrails... Or he was going to be appointed White House health czar, in which case he would have the president's ear without the guardrails," Cassidy explained, adding, "I chose to have the one with the guardrails."

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Bobby Kennedy was going to have the ear of the President. The President seems to be fascinated with the Kennedys. Either he was going to be in a position where there were guardrails, and I did have commitments made as to kind of guardrails. Or he was going to be appointed White House health czar, in which case he would have the president's ear without the guardrails. You can criticize it, but I chose to have the one with the guardrails.

However, Cassidy declared that Kennedy has failed to restore public trust in health initiatives. He pointed to reports of the administration attempting to moderate Kennedy's stance, noting that public opinion polls indicate Americans understand the importance of vaccines. Cassidy believes Kennedy's public statements against vaccines contradict the public's experience and understanding.

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He has not restored trust in public health.

Cassidy also detailed specific promises made by Kennedy, including a pledge that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would maintain statements on its website affirming no established link between vaccines and autism. While the CDC page still contains a heading stating "Vaccines do not cause Autism," it is accompanied by an asterisk and a note that the phrase is not an evidence-based claim, a detail added due to an agreement with Cassidy. The senator feels these commitments have been violated.

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Polling shows that the American people understand that vaccines are important, and for someone to be out there saying that they're not goes against their experience.