WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee denounced a decision by the federal government to phase out mRNA vaccine development, warning that could hurt pandemic preparedness.

Others say it the harm will go beyond that, to potentially damage domestic biosecurity.

Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., said the decision, which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Tuesday, wastes an investment in research worth about $500 million. He also said Kennedy has “conceded to China an important technology needed to combat cancer and infectious disease.”

“President Trump wants to Make America Healthy Again and Make America Great Again,” Cassidy posted Wednesday evening on X. “This works against both of President Trump’s goals.”

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