RFK Jr. Broke Vaccine Promises, Built Public Health On 'Lies,' GOP Senator Who Helped Confirm Him Says

Sen.

Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chairman of the Senate Health Committee, criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.

Kennedy Jr. on Sunday, accusing him of breaking vaccine-related commitments and building U.S. public health policy "upon a foundation of lies" during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation in Washington.

Cassidy, a physician and one of the key Republican votes behind Kennedy’s confirmation, told CBS News that commitments Kennedy made during the confirmation process "have been violated," particularly around vaccine messaging and public trust. "If you build public health upon a foundation of lies, then you’re going to have the absence of adequate public health," Cassidy said.

The Louisiana senator said he backed Kennedy’s nomination because he believed placing him inside the administration with congressional oversight was safer than allowing him to operate as an unofficial White House health adviser without guardrails. "Either he was going to be in a position where there were guardrails… or he was going to be appointed White House health czar," Cassidy said. "I chose to have the one with the guardrails." Vaccine Promises Under Fire A central point of tension involves the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s autism guidance.

During Kennedy’s confirmation process, Cassidy said Kennedy pledged the CDC would maintain clear language stating vaccines do not cause autism.

That issue resurfaced after the CDC updated a webpage carrying the headline "Vaccines do not cause Autism," while adding language questioning whether the statement is fully evidence-based.

Cassidy said that the change violated a direct agreement. "I can tell you that that broken agreement that I had with the secretary, that that was not supposed to happen," he said.

Scientific research has consistently found no evidence linking routine childhood vaccination with autism.

Cassidy also rejected Kennedy’s broader vaccine skepticism, saying public experience overwhelmingly supports immunization. "Polling shows that the American people understand that vaccines are important," Cassidy said. "For someone to be out there saying that they’re not goes against their experience." Read Also: Michael Saylor Destroyed Shareholder Value Instead Of Creating It, Says Peter Schiff: 'Bitcoin Is Overvalued' Pressure On RFK Keeps Growing Cassidy’s criticism adds to mounting scrutiny around Kennedy’s handling of federal health policy.

Last week, Sen.

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released internal emails alleging Kennedy’s office influenced CDC vaccine guidance, including proposed restrictions on vaccine availability and changes to public messaging.

Kennedy has also faced congressional criticism over a proposed 12.5% cut to the HHS budget and CDC messaging during measles outbreaks.

During an April hearing, he acknowledged a child who died of measles in Texas could "possibly" have been saved through vaccination.

Despite the criticism, Cassidy gave Kennedy limited credit for focusing on ultra-processed foods and nutrition. "If that’s where he stayed, our country would be much better off," Cassidy said.

Cassidy also raised broader concerns about some Trump administration decisions during the interview, but his strongest criticism was reserved for Kennedy’s vaccine policy and public health messaging.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published editors.

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