The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday approved President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to serve as a key assistant secretary, two leadership roles that the administration has struggled to fill.
The committee voted 12-11 along party lines to advance Sean Kaufman to serve as assistant secretary for preparedness and response, which is responsible for handling the U.S. response to public health threats. The position has been vacant since the beginning of Trump’s second term.
Kaufman clinched the support of HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., who has had a fraught relationship with the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services over vaccine policies.
During Kaufman’s confirmation hearing, Cassidy voiced concerns about his past statements casting doubt on vaccines and suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. Cassidy raised his voice during the hearing, asking why he would repeat “damn lies” about vaccines.
He also struggled with Kaufman’s comments about the harms of mRNA vaccine technology, despite scientific evidence showing they are safe and effective.
