GOP Senator Bill Cassidy, Who Was Key Vote to Confirm RFK Jr., Blasts Health Honcho for Massive Cuts to Vaccine Funding
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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) criticized Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s decision to cut vaccine funding months after being a key vote to have him confirmed.
On Tuesday, HHS released a statement announcing the cancellation of nearly half a billion dollars in federal contracts for mRNA vaccine development. This included the termination of 22 contracts backed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
The move garnered harsh criticism from both conservatives and liberals.
In an X post Wednesday night, Cassidy called Kennedy’s decision “unfortunate” and argued it goes against President Donald Trump’s “goals.”
“It is unfortunate that the Secretary just canceled a half a billion worth of work, wasting the money which is already invested,” he said. “He has also conceded to China an important technology needed to combat cancer and infectious disease. President Trump wants to Make America Healthy Again and Make America Great Again. This works against both of President Trump’s goals.”
As noted by CNN’s Manu Raju, Cassidy was a crucial vote to get Kennedy confirmed as HHS secretary in the first place.
In a floor speech given in February, Cassidy explained how conversations he had with Kennedy were enough to earn his support in spite of his concern about the soon-to-be secretary’s views on vaccines:
Now, Mr. Kennedy and the administration reached out seeking to reassure me regarding their commitment to protecting the public health benefit of vaccination.
To this end, Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I will have an unprecedently close collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed. We will meet or speak multiple times a month. This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective.
Mr. Kennedy has asked for my input into hiring decisions at HHS, beyond Senate-confirmed positions. This aspect of our collaboration will allow us to represent all sides of those folks that were contacting me this weekend.
