Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, is pressing the Trump administration to intensify its measles vaccination campaign as the U.S. faces its worst outbreak in decades, with more than 4,000 confirmed cases and multiple fatalities this year.
In an appearance on CNN's State of the Union, Cassidy—a physician by training—said the administration's current efforts fall short. “My concern as a physician is that everyone should be vaccinated for measles,” he told host Jake Tapper. “And you may think it only affects me. That's not true because you infect other people.”
Cassidy stressed the communal benefit of immunization. “If I'm not protected, but you are, then I'm not exposed. I'm all about asking people to be immunized for yourself and for others,” he added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Friday that U.S. measles cases this year have topped 4,000, with roughly 96 percent tied to known outbreaks. That compares with a total of 2,289 infections for all of 2025. According to the CDC, about 95 percent of those infected in 2026 were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
During his CNN appearance, Cassidy directly urged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC to push harder for vaccinations. While Kennedy has a history of questioning vaccine safety—including debunked claims linking vaccines to autism—Cassidy acknowledged that the secretary has encouraged immunization but argued that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must do more to boost uptake.
“I have seen people die from vaccine-preventable diseases. You get vaccinated, you don't die. You're not vaccinated, you do die,” Cassidy said, underscoring the stakes.
The outbreak has been particularly severe in Pennsylvania, where officials this week confirmed a sixth death linked to measles. The state has recorded more than 1,100 cases this year—its largest outbreak in decades—and has become a flashpoint in a public feud between Kennedy and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro over the true death toll.
Cassidy's remarks echo his earlier criticism of the administration's handling of the crisis. During a hearing for three HHS nominees earlier this year, he called the response a “terrible legacy,” citing the measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania. The growing political pressure comes as the administration faces scrutiny over its broader public health strategy, including Kennedy's reorganization of HHS and its handling of other health-related controversies.
The outbreak has also drawn attention to the administration's foreign policy decisions that have sparked bipartisan pushback, though Cassidy's focus remains on the domestic health emergency. As the death toll rises, Cassidy's call for a more aggressive vaccination push is likely to intensify pressure on the administration to act.
