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

Key Points:

• Senator Bill Cassidy criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for vaccine skepticism and broken commitments related to public health, despite having supported his nomination to ensure congressional oversight. Cassidy emphasized that Kennedy has not restored trust in public health and pointed to contradictions on the CDC website regarding vaccine safety.
• Cassidy condemned Kennedy's rollback of U.S. global immunization efforts, such as PEPFAR and GAVI, arguing that these programs are critical for U.S. national security and global health diplomacy, especially in competition with China. He warned that weakening these initiatives harms disease response capabilities and international goodwill.
• On other political issues, Cassidy objected to President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence due to Pulte's use of government resources against political opponents. Cassidy also expressed conditional support for Trump's acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, pending assurances that a controversial "anti-weaponization" fund will not proceed.
• Cassidy highlighted his efforts to secure federal support for early intervention in dyslexia, stressing the importance of accommodating diverse learning needs to prevent long-term educational harm. He criticized Trump's disparaging remarks about dyslexia, advocating for encouragement rather than insult.
• Despite tensions with Trump, including over a war powers resolution on Iran and legislative priorities, Cassidy indicated a willingness to work with the president on common goals like housing affordability and dyslexia support, reflecting ongoing complex dynamics within the GOP.