FDA nominee preps for hearing next week

Heidi Overton, the nominee for FDA commissioner, is set to attend her confirmation hearing next Thursday, though it remains uncertain whether Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy will endorse her. Following President Donald Trump's nomination of Overton, he criticized her involvement in the rollout of the president's vaccine executive order, describing it as "almost disqualifying."

Overton, who serves on the White House Domestic Policy Council, has been actively engaging with lawmakers, including a breakfast meeting with Cassidy on September 3, and speaking with former FDA officials in recent weeks, according to sources familiar with her outreach. This behavior suggests she might be more cooperative than former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary if confirmed.

Other Trump appointments for health roles, such as surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier and deputy health secretary nominee Chris Klomp, seem to be on track for confirmation, even without guaranteed Democratic support. During a Senate health committee hearing on Wednesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski, from Alaska, expressed satisfaction with Saphier's qualifications for the surgeon general position.

Saphier, who is a former Fox News contributor, also shared with Cassidy that "the most tried and true way to prevent hepatitis B infection and effectively lower hepatitis B associated illness is universal birth dosing," aligning her views with outgoing Senator Murkowski's priorities as a former liver doctor.