Senator Bill Cassidy, the Republican chair of the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, criticized the Trump administration’s approach to vaccines, linking recent measles deaths in Pennsylvania to the administration’s skepticism toward immunization. Cassidy, a Louisiana physician, noted that three people had died from measles, with a fourth case under review, and attributed these preventable deaths to misinformation and policies that undermine public health. His comments come as the United States faces its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, with the disease spreading across multiple states due to declining vaccination rates. Cassidy emphasized the importance of science-based decision-making in public health, saying the country needs leaders who prioritize facts over political ideology. He criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the outbreak, calling it a “terrible legacy” for the administration. The senator is currently scrutinizing several Trump-nominated officials for key health roles, including Chris Klomp for deputy secretary of health and human services, Nicole Saphier for surgeon general, and Timothy Westlake for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. During the hearing, Cassidy questioned Saphier directly about her stance on the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and its link to autism. He asked whether she would clearly state that the vaccine does not cause autism, a claim that has been widely debunked by medical research. Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor, said she did not believe the MMR vaccine was lethal and described it as the most effective tool for combating measles and achieving herd immunity. However, she avoided directly addressing the autism claim, instead focusing on broader public health concerns like rising cancer rates and preventable cardiovascular disease. Cassidy expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s strategy to address vaccine hesitancy, arguing that spreading misinformation only undermines public trust in immunization. He previously criticized President Trump’s claims about the safety of the MMR vaccine and had supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as health secretary, despite disagreements over how to combat vaccine skepticism. After Kennedy took office, the CDC’s website was altered, adding an asterisk to the statement “Vaccines do not cause Autism” and redirecting readers to a footnote that questions the root causes of autism, a move that has drawn criticism from scientists and public health experts.