Sen. Cassidy says measles surge will be administration’s ‘terrible legacy’
The Washington Post reports:
BLUF: Under questioning by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Trump’s surgeon general pick Nicole Saphier called a combined vaccine “our greatest tool for combating measles infections.”
By Rachel Roubein
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) on Wednesday said the nation’s worst measles outbreak in the United States in 35 years is “going to be a terrible legacy for this administration,” citing recent deaths in Pennsylvania.
“Misinformation and misguided policies are leaving children and adults unprotected against disease that we know how to prevent,” Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said at the outset of a hearing for three key administration nominees.
The United States this year has reported the most measles cases since 1991, surpassing last year’s total with months left to go. Pennsylvania state health officials said Tuesday that the state has recorded a total of four measles-associated deaths for the year.
Last month, President Donald Trump launched his most significant attempt yet to overhaul childhood vaccinations, issuing an executive order calling for cutting the number of recommended childhood shots and breaking up the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate doses.
“It deeply concerns me to see politicians giving medical advice which has zero scientific backing. Scaring mothers into delaying or even altogether skipping their child’s vaccine is wrong, and it makes America sicker, not healthier,” said Cassidy, who lost his primary bid for reelection this year.
Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said in a statement that “any notion that the Trump Administration is discouraging measles vaccination is absolutely fake news.” She added that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has “repeatedly stated that MMR vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles infection.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hilliard said, has “mounted an aggressive measles response” and offered further assistance to Pennsylvania.
Trump’s executive order, she added, “ensures that federal vaccine policy is grounded in rigorous scientific review and gives parents accurate information to make informed decisions with their healthcare providers.”
The recent deaths in Pennsylvania have launched a bitter political feud between Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who is widely expected to run for president, and Kennedy, the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine group. Democrats and public health experts contend that Kennedy has a history of downplaying measles outbreaks, and that his rhetoric over the years has undermined immunizations. Kennedy has accused Shapiro of using the moment for political gain.
During Wednesday’s hearing, senators quizzed Nicole Saphier, Trump’s pick for surgeon general, and two other high-profile nominees on a range of topics, including state abortion bans, fentanyl test strips and the authorization of the first fruit-flavored vapes for adults.
In the spring, Trump selected Saphier — a former Fox News contributor and radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York — to be the nation’s top doctor, marking his third attempt to fill the role.
Cassidy said that Americans will look to Saphier for “clear medical guidance.” He repeatedly quizzed her on her stance on several vaccines, asking her not to equivocate. He asked her what she would tell a mom who asks if the MMR vaccine causes autism.
“Well, humbly, I don’t know what causes autism, but I have not seen reputable evidence that would suggest that vaccines cause autism,” she said.
After Cassidy accused her of leaving wiggle room in her response, she said, “I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism.”
Last month, Trump said that the combined MMR vaccine could be “quite lethal,” without citing scientific evidence. Under Trump’s plan, vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella would remain recommended for all children; he has called for breaking up the immunization into three separate shots, which are not currently available in the United States. His directives on childhood immunizations are not currently in effect, since they involve a lengthy administrative process.
Saphier said she could not speak to the president’s remarks, adding that as a physician she does not believe the vaccine to be lethal and that it is “our greatest tool for combating measles infections.”
Two other nominees also appeared before the Senate HELP Committee on Wednesday. Chris Klomp, who is vying for the health department’s No. 2 slot; however, the decision on whether to advance the nomination of Klomp, who came into the administration as the top Medicare official and has been serving as Kennedy’s chief counselor since February, will go through the Senate Finance Committee.
Senators also questioned Timothy Westlake, Trump’s pick to head the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which leads policy efforts on mental health and addiction. He is a board-certified emergency physician.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) asked about fentanyl test strips, saying she has heard from constituents that the products help prevent fatal overdoses by testing whether a drug has been mixed or cut with the powerful synthetic opioid. Westlake said that he does not believe there is concrete evidence the strips reduce drug overdoses.
Cassidy questioned Klomp on a CDC national tally of measles deaths, which has excluded two that state health officials reported in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The move, which former officials have described as highly unusual, came from Erica Schwartz, the agency’s new director, The Washington Post previously reported.
Cassidy said he’s spoken with Schwartz, who said the agency is working on a definition for deaths due to measles. “If people are dying from measles, the American people should know that,” Cassidy said. “And there’s at least the perception, whether it’s true or not, that the CDC not putting on that website is trying to dance around the sensitivities of the secretary, as opposed to being straightforward with the American people.”
Klomp said he’s discussed the issue directly with Schwartz, “not as a matter of policy but as a matter of process and operations,” adding that she’s meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop a standard for declaring a measles-related death.
The government should promote measles vaccination as a response to the outbreak, he added.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) asked each nominee how they intend to preserve the integrity and independence of scientists and health experts working at their agencies. Former CDC director Susan Monarez was fired last year, and three other high-ranking officials at the agency resigned a year ago to protest what they called Kennedy’s politicization of science.
Klomp responded that the country needs to make a distinction between “science and policy” and “facts and data,” emphasizing the need for transparency. Saphier said that as a physician, her “professional integrity is everything,” and she will do “nothing to jeopardize that professional integrity.” Westlake said that following the science means to “follow the evidence wherever it leads.”
The nominations come as Trump officials have swapped some of Kennedy’s handpicked deputies this year for people with more traditional experience. The changes have frustrated some supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement championed by Kennedy, which was built on the notion of ushering in new health department leaders who challenged the medical establishment.
The move to elevate Saphier put an end to the nomination of Casey Means, who is influential within the MAHA movement, as her nomination stalled in the Senate. Trump earlier withdrew the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, his first pick to serve in the role. The position of surgeon general has a powerful bully pulpit — helping fight HIV, smoking, obesity and addiction — but has a more limited role in policymaking.
Before being nominated, Saphier had criticized some actions that HHS had taken under Kennedy’s leadership.
Last year, the CDC revised its website to contradict the long-settled scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism. On a November episode of her podcast, Saphier said that the website sounded like “someone without a science background wrote it.” In March, a federal judge halted Kennedy’s vaccine overhaul; Saphier wrote on X that “the system needed reform, but not chaos.” It does not appear that every previous tweet of hers is available.
“Dr. Nicole Saphier is an accomplished physician who has practiced radiology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and has been an outspoken voice on breast cancer prevention, intrusive COVID-19 mandates, the politicization of science, and the federal government’s role in America’s chronic disease epidemic,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. “She has been a powerful asset for President Trump and works tirelessly to deliver on every facet of his MAHA agenda.”
She will be divesting her holdings in an array of companies, some of which affect Americans’ health and which Kennedy has accused of helping fuel chronic diseases. This includes but is not limited to the soda and food industries, as well as pharmaceutical companies, according to financial disclosure and ethics forms.
Her ethics agreement notes the positions she will step away from or take unpaid leaves of absence. This includes resigning, upon confirmation by the Senate, her position from DropRx — her company that sells dietary and herbal supplements — and Empower MD, which owns DropRx.
Medical experts have raised questions about the supplement industry, given it is not strongly regulated.
AI Generated summary of 589 readers’ comments on this article:
The comments overwhelmingly criticize Senator Bill Cassidy for his role in confirming RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, attributing the measles outbreak and other health policy failures to this decision.
Many commenters express frustration with Cassidy's perceived hypocrisy and lack of accountability, emphasizing that the measles surge and related issues are part of his legacy as much as they are the administration's.
Additionally, there is criticism of the administration's handling of health appointments and policies, with some comments highlighting broader dissatisfaction with the current political climate.
My comments:
First, I cannot absolve lame duck Senator and fellow physician Cassidy of his critical role in leading all Republican senators to confirm Kennedy as the head of HHS. This is inexcusable! Cassidy should have known that Kennedy was lying to him—as was proven to be the case almost immediately after his confirmation.
Second, the statements by Hilliard are obvious lies.
Third, the statement by Schwartz is clearly false to not classify the neonates death in Pennsylvania as being caused by measles. The unvaccinated mother transmitted the measles virus to her fetus in utero and the baby was born with maternal-fetal transmission of measles resulting in splenomegaly (enlarged fetal spleen) and rupture of the spleen at birth. The pathologist and coroner collaborated for right wing political reasons to say measles was not the cause—it was.
Fourth, I am highly suspicious of the Saphier nomination. It seems the only “vetting” was that she contributed to FAUX News. She needs to be properly investigated and vetted for such an important position. Something Demented Donnie seems uniquely incapable of doing!
BLUF: Under questioning by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Trump’s surgeon general pick Nicole Saphier called a combined vaccine “our greatest tool for combating measles infections.”
By Rachel Roubein
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) on Wednesday said the nation’s worst measles outbreak in the United States in 35 years is “going to be a terrible legacy for this administration,” citing recent deaths in Pennsylvania.
“Misinformation and misguided policies are leaving children and adults unprotected against disease that we know how to prevent,” Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said at the outset of a hearing for three key administration nominees.
The United States this year has reported the most measles cases since 1991, surpassing last year’s total with months left to go. Pennsylvania state health officials said Tuesday that the state has recorded a total of four measles-associated deaths for the year.
Last month, President Donald Trump launched his most significant attempt yet to overhaul childhood vaccinations, issuing an executive order calling for cutting the number of recommended childhood shots and breaking up the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate doses.
“It deeply concerns me to see politicians giving medical advice which has zero scientific backing. Scaring mothers into delaying or even altogether skipping their child’s vaccine is wrong, and it makes America sicker, not healthier,” said Cassidy, who lost his primary bid for reelection this year.
Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said in a statement that “any notion that the Trump Administration is discouraging measles vaccination is absolutely fake news.” She added that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has “repeatedly stated that MMR vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles infection.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hilliard said, has “mounted an aggressive measles response” and offered further assistance to Pennsylvania.
Trump’s executive order, she added, “ensures that federal vaccine policy is grounded in rigorous scientific review and gives parents accurate information to make informed decisions with their healthcare providers.”
The recent deaths in Pennsylvania have launched a bitter political feud between Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who is widely expected to run for president, and Kennedy, the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine group. Democrats and public health experts contend that Kennedy has a history of downplaying measles outbreaks, and that his rhetoric over the years has undermined immunizations. Kennedy has accused Shapiro of using the moment for political gain.
During Wednesday’s hearing, senators quizzed Nicole Saphier, Trump’s pick for surgeon general, and two other high-profile nominees on a range of topics, including state abortion bans, fentanyl test strips and the authorization of the first fruit-flavored vapes for adults.
In the spring, Trump selected Saphier — a former Fox News contributor and radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York — to be the nation’s top doctor, marking his third attempt to fill the role.
Cassidy said that Americans will look to Saphier for “clear medical guidance.” He repeatedly quizzed her on her stance on several vaccines, asking her not to equivocate. He asked her what she would tell a mom who asks if the MMR vaccine causes autism.
“Well, humbly, I don’t know what causes autism, but I have not seen reputable evidence that would suggest that vaccines cause autism,” she said.
After Cassidy accused her of leaving wiggle room in her response, she said, “I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism.”
Last month, Trump said that the combined MMR vaccine could be “quite lethal,” without citing scientific evidence. Under Trump’s plan, vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella would remain recommended for all children; he has called for breaking up the immunization into three separate shots, which are not currently available in the United States. His directives on childhood immunizations are not currently in effect, since they involve a lengthy administrative process.
Saphier said she could not speak to the president’s remarks, adding that as a physician she does not believe the vaccine to be lethal and that it is “our greatest tool for combating measles infections.”
Two other nominees also appeared before the Senate HELP Committee on Wednesday. Chris Klomp, who is vying for the health department’s No. 2 slot; however, the decision on whether to advance the nomination of Klomp, who came into the administration as the top Medicare official and has been serving as Kennedy’s chief counselor since February, will go through the Senate Finance Committee.
Senators also questioned Timothy Westlake, Trump’s pick to head the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which leads policy efforts on mental health and addiction. He is a board-certified emergency physician.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire) asked about fentanyl test strips, saying she has heard from constituents that the products help prevent fatal overdoses by testing whether a drug has been mixed or cut with the powerful synthetic opioid. Westlake said that he does not believe there is concrete evidence the strips reduce drug overdoses.
Cassidy questioned Klomp on a CDC national tally of measles deaths, which has excluded two that state health officials reported in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The move, which former officials have described as highly unusual, came from Erica Schwartz, the agency’s new director, The Washington Post previously reported.
Cassidy said he’s spoken with Schwartz, who said the agency is working on a definition for deaths due to measles. “If people are dying from measles, the American people should know that,” Cassidy said. “And there’s at least the perception, whether it’s true or not, that the CDC not putting on that website is trying to dance around the sensitivities of the secretary, as opposed to being straightforward with the American people.”
Klomp said he’s discussed the issue directly with Schwartz, “not as a matter of policy but as a matter of process and operations,” adding that she’s meeting with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to develop a standard for declaring a measles-related death.
The government should promote measles vaccination as a response to the outbreak, he added.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) asked each nominee how they intend to preserve the integrity and independence of scientists and health experts working at their agencies. Former CDC director Susan Monarez was fired last year, and three other high-ranking officials at the agency resigned a year ago to protest what they called Kennedy’s politicization of science.
Klomp responded that the country needs to make a distinction between “science and policy” and “facts and data,” emphasizing the need for transparency. Saphier said that as a physician, her “professional integrity is everything,” and she will do “nothing to jeopardize that professional integrity.” Westlake said that following the science means to “follow the evidence wherever it leads.”
The nominations come as Trump officials have swapped some of Kennedy’s handpicked deputies this year for people with more traditional experience. The changes have frustrated some supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement championed by Kennedy, which was built on the notion of ushering in new health department leaders who challenged the medical establishment.
The move to elevate Saphier put an end to the nomination of Casey Means, who is influential within the MAHA movement, as her nomination stalled in the Senate. Trump earlier withdrew the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, his first pick to serve in the role. The position of surgeon general has a powerful bully pulpit — helping fight HIV, smoking, obesity and addiction — but has a more limited role in policymaking.
Before being nominated, Saphier had criticized some actions that HHS had taken under Kennedy’s leadership.
Last year, the CDC revised its website to contradict the long-settled scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism. On a November episode of her podcast, Saphier said that the website sounded like “someone without a science background wrote it.” In March, a federal judge halted Kennedy’s vaccine overhaul; Saphier wrote on X that “the system needed reform, but not chaos.” It does not appear that every previous tweet of hers is available.
“Dr. Nicole Saphier is an accomplished physician who has practiced radiology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and has been an outspoken voice on breast cancer prevention, intrusive COVID-19 mandates, the politicization of science, and the federal government’s role in America’s chronic disease epidemic,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. “She has been a powerful asset for President Trump and works tirelessly to deliver on every facet of his MAHA agenda.”
She will be divesting her holdings in an array of companies, some of which affect Americans’ health and which Kennedy has accused of helping fuel chronic diseases. This includes but is not limited to the soda and food industries, as well as pharmaceutical companies, according to financial disclosure and ethics forms.
Her ethics agreement notes the positions she will step away from or take unpaid leaves of absence. This includes resigning, upon confirmation by the Senate, her position from DropRx — her company that sells dietary and herbal supplements — and Empower MD, which owns DropRx.
Medical experts have raised questions about the supplement industry, given it is not strongly regulated.
AI Generated summary of 589 readers’ comments on this article:
The comments overwhelmingly criticize Senator Bill Cassidy for his role in confirming RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, attributing the measles outbreak and other health policy failures to this decision.
Many commenters express frustration with Cassidy's perceived hypocrisy and lack of accountability, emphasizing that the measles surge and related issues are part of his legacy as much as they are the administration's.
Additionally, there is criticism of the administration's handling of health appointments and policies, with some comments highlighting broader dissatisfaction with the current political climate.
My comments:
First, I cannot absolve lame duck Senator and fellow physician Cassidy of his critical role in leading all Republican senators to confirm Kennedy as the head of HHS. This is inexcusable! Cassidy should have known that Kennedy was lying to him—as was proven to be the case almost immediately after his confirmation.
Second, the statements by Hilliard are obvious lies.
Third, the statement by Schwartz is clearly false to not classify the neonates death in Pennsylvania as being caused by measles. The unvaccinated mother transmitted the measles virus to her fetus in utero and the baby was born with maternal-fetal transmission of measles resulting in splenomegaly (enlarged fetal spleen) and rupture of the spleen at birth. The pathologist and coroner collaborated for right wing political reasons to say measles was not the cause—it was.
Fourth, I am highly suspicious of the Saphier nomination. It seems the only “vetting” was that she contributed to FAUX News. She needs to be properly investigated and vetted for such an important position. Something Demented Donnie seems uniquely incapable of doing!
