Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are engaged in a public dispute over Kennedy’s public health agenda and whether he has kept campaign or policy promises. Cassidy, a physician who provided the decisive vote to advance Kennedy’s HHS nomination, argues that Kennedy is building public health policy “upon a foundation of lies” and says Kennedy has not restored public trust in public health. In separate remarks, Cassidy also seeks to explain his confirmation vote, saying Kennedy remains dug in on views about vaccinations despite public opinion.
Kennedy rejects the criticism. He tells NewsNation that Cassidy’s accusations that he is breaking promises are “not true,” and he says he met with Cassidy about a month earlier to discuss the senator’s critiques. Other coverage describes Kennedy firing back at Cassidy, stating he has kept the promises Cassidy challenged, including matters related to how a government health website describes vaccines and autism and policy “guardrails” for public health.
The disagreement centers on how each side characterizes Kennedy’s statements and policy changes affecting public health information and vaccine-related messaging.
