Cassidy Bets on Assurances in Kennedy Vaccine Clash Over Health Nominees

Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, voted to advance Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC and Sean Kaufman to head the ASPR, saying he has “received reassurances” from senior HHS officials and will use those commitments as leverage if they aren’t kept, even after grilling both nominees and voicing concerns about Kennedy’s vaccine stance and Kaufman’s past vaccine-safety remarks. Cassidy framed the confirmations as necessary pragmatic steps despite imperfect nominees, citing changes he’s already accepted as signs of good faith (including a CDC page modification on vaccines). The moves fit a broader, party-line push on health nominations and come as other health- and education-related confirmations advance in the Senate.