It’s simple to neglect that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault on vaccines—together with, most not too long ago, his gutting of the knowledgeable committee that guides American vaccine coverage—might need been averted. 4 months in the past, his nomination for well being secretary was in critical jeopardy. The deciding vote appeared to be within the arms of 1 Republican senator: Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana. A doctor who gained prominence by vaccinating low-income children in his house state, Cassidy was cautious of the longtime vaccine conspiracist. “I’ve been struggling together with your nomination,” he advised Kennedy throughout his affirmation hearings in January.
Then Cassidy caved.
Within the speech he gave on the Senate ground explaining his choice, Cassidy stated that he’d vote to verify Kennedy solely as a result of he had extracted a variety of concessions from the nominee—chief amongst them that he would protect, “with out modifications,” the very CDC committee Kennedy overhauled this week. Since then, Cassidy has continued to offer Kennedy the advantage of the doubt. On Monday, after Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee, Cassidy posted on X that he was working with Kennedy to stop the open roles from being crammed with “individuals who know nothing about vaccines besides suspicion.”
The senator has failed, undeniably and spectacularly. One new appointee, Robert Malone, has repeatedly unfold misinformation (or what he prefers to name “scientific dissent”) about vaccines. One other appointee, Vicky Pebsworth, is on the board of an anti-vax nonprofit, the Nationwide Vaccine Info Middle. Cassidy could preserve insisting that he’s doing all he can to face up for vaccines. However he already had his huge likelihood to take action, and he blew it. Now, with the remainder of America, he’s watching the nation’s vaccine future take a nosedive.
Thus far, the senator hasn’t appeared excited about any form of mea culpa for his religion in Kennedy’s guarantees. On Thursday, I caught Cassidy as he hurried out of a congressional listening to room. He was nonetheless reviewing the appointees, he advised me and a number of other different reporters who gathered round him. After I chased after him down the hallway to ask extra questions, he advised me, “I’ll be placing out statements, and I’ll let these statements stand for themselves.” A member of his workers dismissed me with a curt “Thanks, sir.” Cassidy’s workers has declined repeated requests for an interview with the senator because the affirmation vote in January.
Apart from Mitch McConnell, each GOP senator voted to verify Kennedy. All of them need to personal the well being secretary’s actions. However Cassidy appeared to be the Republican most involved about Kennedy’s nomination, and there was a superb purpose to suppose that the physician would vote his conscience. In 2021, Cassidy was considered one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Donald Trump on an impeachment cost after the rebel on the Capitol. However this time, the senator—who’s up for reelection subsequent yr, dealing with a extra MAGA-friendly challenger—finally fell in line.
Cassidy tried to have it each methods: elevating Kennedy to his job whereas additionally vowing to constrain him. In casting his affirmation vote, Cassidy implied that the 2 can be in shut communication, and that Kennedy had requested for his enter on hiring choices. The 2 reportedly had breakfast in March to debate the well being secretary’s plan to dramatically reshape the division. “Senator Cassidy speaks often with secretary Kennedy and believes these conversations are far more productive once they’re held in non-public, not via press headlines,” a spokesperson for Cassidy wrote in an electronic mail. (A spokesperson for HHS didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.)
At instances, it has appeared as if Cassidy’s method has had some impact on the well being secretary. Amid the measles outbreak in Texas earlier this yr, Kennedy baselessly questioned the protection of the MMR vaccine. In April, after two unvaccinated kids died, Cassidy posted on X: “Everybody needs to be vaccinated! There isn’t any therapy for measles. No profit to getting measles. Prime well being officers ought to say so unequivocally b/4 one other little one dies.” Cassidy didn’t name out Kennedy by identify, however the well being secretary appeared to get the message. Later that day, Kennedy posted that the measles vaccine was the best method to stave off sickness. (“Utterly agree,” Cassidy responded.)
All issues thought-about, that’s a small victory. Regardless of Kennedy’s claims that he’s not an anti-vaxxer, he has enacted a plainly anti-vaccine agenda. Since being confirmed, he has pushed out the FDA’s high vaccine regulator, employed a fellow vaccine skeptic to analyze the purported hyperlink between autism and pictures, and questioned the protection of childhood vaccinations at the moment advisable by the CDC. As my colleague Katherine J. Wu wrote this week, “Whether or not he’ll admit to it or not, he’s serving probably the most core aim of the anti-vaccine motion—eroding entry to, and belief in, immunization.”
The truth is that again channels could be solely so efficient. Cassidy’s most important energy is to name Kennedy earlier than the Senate well being committee, which he chairs, and demand an evidence for Kennedy’s new appointees to the CDC’s vaccine-advisory committee. Cassidy may very properly try this. In February, he stated that Kennedy would “come earlier than the committee on a quarterly foundation, if requested.” Kennedy did seem earlier than Cassidy’s committee final month to reply questions on his efforts to institute mass layoffs at his company. Some Republicans (and plenty of Democrats) pressed the secretary on these efforts, whereas others praised them. Cassidy, for his half, expressed issues about Kennedy’s indiscriminate chopping of analysis packages, however nonetheless, he was largely deferential. “I agree with Secretary Kennedy that HHS wants reform,” Cassidy stated.
Even when he had disagreed, an offended trade between a well being secretary and a Senate committee doesn’t assure any coverage modifications. Lawmakers could attempt to act like authorities bureaucrats report back to them, however they’ve restricted energy as soon as a nominee is already of their job. Technically, lawmakers can impeach Cupboard members, however in American historical past, a sitting Cupboard member has by no means been impeached and subsequently faraway from workplace. The lengthy and arduous affirmation course of is meant to be the bulwark towards doubtlessly harmful nominees being put in positions of energy. Cassidy and most of his Republican colleagues have already determined to not cease Kennedy from overseeing the biggest division within the federal authorities by price range. Now Kennedy is free to do no matter he desires—senators be damned.