Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears on the path to confirmation as HHS secretary after securing a key yes vote from Sen. Bill Cassidy and having his nomination advance out of the Finance Committee today, Peter reports.

Why it matters: Barring last-minutes surprises on the floor, one of the nation's most prominent vaccine critics is on track to become the nation's top health official.

Driving the news: With Cassidy a yes, Kennedy would get through even if remaining on-the-fence Republicans Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski all vote no. Vice President JD Vance would cast a tie-breaker if Democrats unite in opposition.

• Cassidy, who had said he was "struggling" with the nomination, kept his vote closely held until the Finance Committee met to vote this morning.

What they're saying: "I've had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning," Cassidy said in a statement.

• "I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I've received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes."

Between the lines: Cassidy was under pressure because he's up for reelection next year. Voting against a key Trump Cabinet pick could have increased his odds of losing a primary in Louisiana.

• Cassidy already has one mark against Trump after voting to convict in his second impeachment, over the effort to overturn the election results on Jan. 6, 2021.
• Cassidy said on the Senate floor that he had received commitments from Kennedy and the administration, including to "maintain" the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations "without changes," and to work within "current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems."
• He added that he and Kennedy will speak "multiple times a month."
• During his hearing last week, Cassidy pressed Kennedy to definitively say that vaccines do not cause autism, which Kennedy declined to do.

What's next: Some GOP senators are hoping Kennedy will focus on more bipartisan issues, like healthy foods, rather than going after vaccines.

• "Maybe it is time to have a different kind of disruptor there," said Sen. Thom Tillis, who faces a competitive reelection fight next year.
• "The only way that Bobby Kennedy and I will get crosswise is if he does actually take a position against the safety of proven vaccines," he said, adding that he was satisfied with Kennedy's assurances he'd let scientists operate.

The global health implications of Trump administration moves to restructure or even dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development are stoking growing pushback from congressional Democrats, Victoria reports.

Why it matters: Through USAID, the U.S. provides humanitarian aid and a variety of programs that prevent and monitor diseases.

Threat level: USAID is essentially the program implementer for most U.S. global health programs around the world, Jen Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at KFF, told Victoria.

• That includes efforts that address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning, neglected tropical diseases and global health security.

The question going forward is less about whether the agency is merged into the State Department but about what changes are made to the way established USAID programs are organized and implemented.

• "This all has a huge impact on global health, depending on what gets decided," Kates said.

What they're saying: Democrats argue the actions around USAID are unconstitutional since Congress established the agency and approved funding for the international programs. They also say disbanding the agency would have dire consequences for global health.

• "Congress has appropriated foreign assistance to protect U.S. interests and global stability," Rep. Johnny Olszewski said yesterday. "The Trump freeze on foreign assistance has halted vital humanitarian aid and medical deliveries that have already been paid for."
• "This is a constitutional crisis that we are in today. Let's call it what it is," said Sen. Chris Murphy. "The people get to decide how their taxpayer money is spent. Elon Musk does not get to decide."
• "I can tell you that there is an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda and Marburg virus in East Africa, and all of those programs are either completely shut down or hobbled to the point where people can't deliver aid," said Sen. Brian Schatz.

Reality check: Elon Musk and some Republicans have said that overhauling the government will save money and root out biased programs.

• But U.S. foreign aid accounts for only 1% or less of the annual federal budget, and U.S. funding for global health accounts for an even smaller percentage.

1. Trans care backlash: Health systems that halted gender-affirming care in response to President Trump's executive order are facing backlash and possible lawsuits, Axios' Maya Goldman reports.
2. Pfizer boost: The company today beat earnings estimates as sales of COVID products topped expectations and its cost-cutting efforts took hold, CNBC reports.

3. Screen time: The average teen with a smartphone is spending nearly a quarter of the school day texting, streaming or scrolling, raising more health concerns about screen time, Axios' Tina Reed reports.