Senator Bill Cassidy, the leading Republican on the Senate health committee, has drawn fire from fellow Republicans after expressing reservations about confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary. During Kennedy's confirmation hearing, Cassidy voiced concerns about Kennedy's stance on vaccines, stating he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's apparent reluctance to acknowledge vaccine safety and reject claims linking them to autism. Cassidy emphasized the importance of accepting scientific evidence, referencing a health improvement initiative he called "MAHA."

This prompted a strong reaction from Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins, who insisted Kennedy would lead HHS regardless of Cassidy's position. Higgins asserted the Senate's Republican majority and suggested Vice President JD Vance could provide a tie-breaking vote, drawing a parallel to past confirmation battles. He warned Cassidy that "the people" were determined to "save the country" with Kennedy as part of the plan.

GOP strategist Scott Presler threatened to challenge Cassidy in a primary election if he opposed Kennedy, claiming support in Louisiana. This prompted a response from a Louisiana Republican Assembly chapter, indicating their readiness to counter such efforts. Meanwhile, conservative activist Charlie Kirk offered a more nuanced critique, suggesting Cassidy misunderstood the situation. Kirk argued that many Americans share Kennedy's skepticism towards vaccine manufacturers and the broader medical establishment, emphasizing Kennedy's repeated affirmations of being "pro-vaccine" while questioning current practices.

In contrast to the Republican backlash, the president of Advancing American Freedom, a conservative organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, commended Cassidy's scrutiny of Kennedy's nomination. Tim Chapman, AAF's president, highlighted the importance of thorough vetting for such a significant position, urging all senators to emulate Cassidy's approach.

Fox News reached out to Senator Cassidy's representatives for comment but hadn't received a response at the time of publication.