Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination 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.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, concluded Thursday's hearing by saying he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's vaccine positions. Kennedy notably refused to say vaccines don't cause autism as he faced pointed question from lawmakers.

Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story All eyes on Cassidy for second RFK Jr. hearing Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate

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.

If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has urged the U.S. Senate — including specifically Sen. Bill Cassidy, a fellow Republican from Louisiana — to support Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Here's when and where Robert F. Kennedy will get his first hearing as President Trump's nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said the paperwork to schedule a hearing for Trump nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could arrive as soon as Tuesday.

On the second day of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s contentious confirmation hearings, GOP senator and health and education committee chair Bill Cassidy appeared to be balancing his support for President Trump against his serious misgivings about Kennedy heading the Department of Health and Human Services — and how one could harm the other.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s frequent questioning of the safety of childhood vaccinations is persisting as an issue in his confirmation hearings to become the Trump administration's top health official.