Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has emerged as a central figure in the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee for health and human services secretary.

Sanders, the senior minority party member on the committee, pressed Kennedy to concede that health care was a human right, as his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncles, John F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy, had done. Kennedy again did not give a definitive answer.

The GOP senator and former physician expressed misgivings about whether Trump’s controversial HHS pick could be trusted with the public’s health.

While Democrats blasted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for previous comments on vaccines and some Republicans teed him up for stump speeches, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana mostly stuck

Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and key G.O.P. vote, joined Democrats in aggressively questioning Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for health secretary. He did not say how he would vote.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ‘s bid to be the nation’s top health official is uncertain after a key Republican joined Democrats to raise persistent concerns over the nominee’s deep skepticism of routine childhood vaccinations that prevent deadly diseases.

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy said he was "struggling" with Kennedy's nomination for health and human services secretary after repeatedly challenging his views on vaccines.

More dramatic questioning on vaccines in RFK Jr's second confirmation hearing. Bond/Simmons-Duffin/Stone/Webber

President Trump added to the turmoil, saying with no evidence that the crash could have been caused by diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration.

The top Republican on the Senate's chief health committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., indicated Thursday that he was “struggling" to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his inability to admit vaccines are safe and don't cause autism.