Cassidy Blames Trump Policies for Measles Outbreak
Cassidy Blames Trump Policies for Measles Outbreak
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Key Points
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Saphier’s opening statement focused on the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, arguing that the country spends too much treating chronic disease after it develops and too little preventing illness. She cited rising cancer rates among people under 50 and cardiovascular disease as examples.
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Saphier is Trump’s third surgeon general nominee: wellness influencer Casey Means’ nomination stalled in the Senate, while Trump withdrew Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination after questions about her credentials. The surgeon general’s office has been without a confirmed leader since January 2025.
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The hearing formed part of a broader effort to address a backlog of health-related vacancies. The Senate is also considering Chris Klomp to serve as HHS deputy secretary and Timothy Westlake to lead the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; the session was described as a courtesy hearing because Klomp’s formal nomination hearing had already been held by the Finance Committee.
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Trump’s proposed childhood-vaccine overhaul includes splitting the combined MMR shot into three separate vaccines and reducing the overall number of recommended childhood shots. Saphier declined to defend Trump’s characterization of the MMR vaccine as “quite lethal.”
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Cassidy had previously voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, despite Kennedy’s vaccine views, saying he did so after receiving assurances from Kennedy about how he would conduct himself in office. That earlier decision has become a point of tension as Cassidy now criticizes the administration’s vaccine messaging.
Dr. Nicole Saphier faced tough questions about vaccines at her Senate confirmation hearing for surgeon general, as NPR reported that Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy blamed the Trump administration's vaccine-skeptical messaging for the worst U.S. measles outbreak in over three decades. Cassidy, a physician and Health Committee chairman, warned the outbreak could become a "terrible legacy" for the administration and has already caused deaths in Pennsylvania.
Saphier, Trump's third surgeon general nominee, said she does not believe vaccines cause autism and called the MMR shot "the country's most effective tool against measles." Arkansas Online noted she praised efforts to engage vaccine-hesitant Americans but declined to directly challenge the president's vaccine positions as the administration pushes to split the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots and reduce overall childhood vaccinations.
Cassidy's Stark Warning on Outbreak and Policy
Cassidy, who is both a physician and Republican senator, directly linked Trump administration policies to measles spread. WWL-TV reported that Cassidy said the vaccine-skeptical messaging from the White House contributed to the outbreak, marking the worst measles resurgence in the U.S. in more than 30 years. The outbreak has already killed people in Pennsylvania and could worsen if current trends continue.
Saphier Supports Vaccines But Avoids Challenging Trump
Saphier made clear her pro-vaccine stance during the hearing. Syracuse.com reported the radiologist and former Fox News contributor stated that childhood vaccines do not cause autism and emphasized the MMR vaccine's proven effectiveness. However, she stopped short of publicly disagreeing with Trump's characterization of the MMR shot as "quite lethal" or defending current vaccination schedules against the administration's proposed overhaul.
Trump's Planned Vaccine Changes Face Limited Scrutiny
The Trump administration plans to split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots and reduce the total number of recommended childhood vaccinations. NWA Online reported that Saphier acknowledged these proposed changes at her hearing but declined to mount a direct defense of the existing vaccine schedule. This marks a shift from traditional public health guidance, which has remained stable for decades based on proven safety and effectiveness data.
Third Nominee After Previous Withdrawals and Stalls
Saphier is Trump's third surgeon general pick. NPR noted that wellness influencer Casey Means' nomination stalled in the Senate, and Trump withdrew Dr. Janette Nesheiwat's nomination after questions about her credentials. The surgeon general's office has been vacant since January 2025, leaving the nation's top public health position empty during a major measles outbreak.
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