https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/biosecur...cdc-nominee-pumps-brakes-health-security-pick
Cassidy clears the way for CDC nominee but pumps brakes on health security pick
Sarah Boden
Today at 11:42 a.m.
Biosecurity Issues
Public Health
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, intends to vote to advance the nomination of Erica Schwartz, MD, MPH, JD, who served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration, according to multiple media outlets.
Cassidy, who isn't running for reelection after losing in the primaries, chairs the powerful Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Schwartz needs the majority of HELP members to vote in her favor before her nomination is considered by the entire Senate, and during last week's confirmation hearing it was not clear that she had sufficient support.
Cassidy now confident in Schwartz's independence
Cassidy, along with several Democrats on the committee, seemed wary of Schwartz's ability to lead the CDC, repeatedly asking during her confirmation hearing whether she'd oppose attempts by the Trump Administration to undermine access to and trust in vaccinations. The most recent CDC director, Susan Monarez, PhD, was fired just 29 days into the job after she clashed with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his desire to limit the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As Politico reported, Cassidy previously refused to say whether he'd vote for Schwartz. But yesterday, he told journalists he's confident that Schwartz "knows what she's doing and will stand against those who do not."
This development comes after the CDC made a minor update to a page on its website about vaccines and autism. It now states that, "Scientists have not identified the root causes of autism."
Cassidy called the change a "sign of good faith," even though the webpage still includes the statement that "studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism."
Ample and unambiguous research shows there is no link.
Health security nominee doesn't have the votes
The formal HELP vote to advance Schwartz's nomination is scheduled for next week. However, it's less clear how the committee will proceed on Trump's pick to head the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the federal government's leading health security agency.
Sean Kaufman, MPH, has a track record of questioning the safety of vaccines, including a now-deleted 2025 LinkedIn post in which he implied that vaccines can cause autism. When discussing the post during his confirmation hearing, a seemingly livid Cassidy hit the table with his fist and asked, 'Why would you repeat those damned lies?"
Kaufman said his comments were taken out of context. That answer, along with Kaufman's hesitancy over mRNA vaccines, did little to assuage Cassidy and HELP Democrats.
According to STAT News, Cassidy said there was not enough support for Kaufman, but a committee spokesman said there are ongoing conversations with the administration about his nomination.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration pulled the nomination of Casey Means, MD, for US surgeon general. The president blamed Cassidy, who questioned Means during her confirmation hearing about autism: The wellness influencer refused to definitively say that vaccines do not cause autism.
Means has made other controversial statements about nutrition and contraception, saying that the latter disrespects life.
Cassidy clears the way for CDC nominee but pumps brakes on health security pick
Sarah Boden
Today at 11:42 a.m.
Biosecurity Issues
Public Health
President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has secured key support from a senator who has been highly critical of the administration's approach to public health.Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, intends to vote to advance the nomination of Erica Schwartz, MD, MPH, JD, who served as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration, according to multiple media outlets.
Cassidy, who isn't running for reelection after losing in the primaries, chairs the powerful Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Schwartz needs the majority of HELP members to vote in her favor before her nomination is considered by the entire Senate, and during last week's confirmation hearing it was not clear that she had sufficient support.
Cassidy now confident in Schwartz's independence
Cassidy, along with several Democrats on the committee, seemed wary of Schwartz's ability to lead the CDC, repeatedly asking during her confirmation hearing whether she'd oppose attempts by the Trump Administration to undermine access to and trust in vaccinations. The most recent CDC director, Susan Monarez, PhD, was fired just 29 days into the job after she clashed with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his desire to limit the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As Politico reported, Cassidy previously refused to say whether he'd vote for Schwartz. But yesterday, he told journalists he's confident that Schwartz "knows what she's doing and will stand against those who do not."
This development comes after the CDC made a minor update to a page on its website about vaccines and autism. It now states that, "Scientists have not identified the root causes of autism."
Cassidy called the change a "sign of good faith," even though the webpage still includes the statement that "studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism."
Ample and unambiguous research shows there is no link.
Health security nominee doesn't have the votes
The formal HELP vote to advance Schwartz's nomination is scheduled for next week. However, it's less clear how the committee will proceed on Trump's pick to head the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the federal government's leading health security agency.
Sean Kaufman, MPH, has a track record of questioning the safety of vaccines, including a now-deleted 2025 LinkedIn post in which he implied that vaccines can cause autism. When discussing the post during his confirmation hearing, a seemingly livid Cassidy hit the table with his fist and asked, 'Why would you repeat those damned lies?"
Kaufman said his comments were taken out of context. That answer, along with Kaufman's hesitancy over mRNA vaccines, did little to assuage Cassidy and HELP Democrats.
According to STAT News, Cassidy said there was not enough support for Kaufman, but a committee spokesman said there are ongoing conversations with the administration about his nomination.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration pulled the nomination of Casey Means, MD, for US surgeon general. The president blamed Cassidy, who questioned Means during her confirmation hearing about autism: The wellness influencer refused to definitively say that vaccines do not cause autism.
Means has made other controversial statements about nutrition and contraception, saying that the latter disrespects life.