Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed criticism from GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.) that he is breaking promises made during his confirmation process, saying the Louisiana Republican's assertions are 'not true.'
Kennedy told NewsNation in Atlantic City, N.J., that he met with Cassidy roughly a month ago and reviewed each promise he made to senators during his Senate confirmation hearing.
'I went through every promise that I made to them and I've kept them all,' Kennedy said. 'I won't speculate as to why Senator Cassidy is saying those things. I think anybody can make that speculation. But what he's saying is not true.'
What the Right Is Saying
Cassidy, a physician who chairs the Senate HELP Committee, said last week that Kennedy 'has not restored trust in public health' since taking office. The Louisiana senator pointed to polling data showing Americans understand vaccines are important for public health.
'For someone to be out there saying that they're not goes against their experience,' Cassidy told CBS News's 'Face the Nation.'
Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy in February 2025 despite voicing concerns about his views on vaccines during the confirmation process. After advancing Kennedy's nomination from the Senate Finance Committee, Cassidy said the then-HHS nominee had 'committed' to working within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democrats have raised concerns about Kennedy's actions since taking control of HHS. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released emails last week appearing to show Kennedy pressuring the CDC over its vaccine messaging.
Sanders and other Democratic lawmakers have pointed to a federal judge's preliminary injunction last month blocking Kennedy's appointment of more than a dozen new members to the CDC vaccine advisory panel. The judge also blocked HHS's new childhood immunization schedule issued in January, which reduced recommended shots for children under the revised guidance.
Democrats have argued that changes to vaccine recommendations could undermine public confidence in immunizations and potentially impact vaccination rates across the country.
What the Numbers Show
Kennedy was confirmed by a 52-48 Senate vote in February 2025, one of the closest Cabinet confirmation votes. He has served as HHS secretary for over 17 months.
The CDC panel that Kennedy reorganized had previously recommended routine childhood immunizations including vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella under standard guidance.
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking Kennedy's appointments to the CDC advisory panel last month. The ruling prevents implementation of the new vaccine schedule HHS issued in January until legal challenges are resolved.
The Bottom Line
The dispute between Cassidy and Kennedy highlights ongoing tensions over public health policy within the Republican Party. While Kennedy maintains he has fulfilled his commitments, a federal court has blocked some of his key actions regarding vaccine guidance. Congressional Democrats continue to scrutinize communications between HHS and health agencies. What happens with the legal challenges to Kennedy's panel appointments could shape how vaccine recommendations are made going forward.