Senate health committee delays vote on Trump nominee for ASPR amid anti-vaccine controversy

The Senate health committee postponed its vote on Sean Kaufman, the Trump administration’s pick to lead the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The delay came just minutes before the scheduled vote and means the nomination will now move to the full Senate at a later date.

During his confirmation hearing, Kaufman faced intense questioning after reports surfaced that he had previously expressed doubts about vaccine safety. Lawmakers highlighted those comments as a concern for a role that oversees public‑health emergency response.

The committee was also set to consider Erica Schwartz’s nomination to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the focus shifted to the controversy surrounding Kaufman’s views.