Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner, appeared Thursday, Sept. 24, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, according to Reuters (opens in new tab), ABC News (opens in new tab), and the committee hearing notice.
Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy pressed her on MMR and childhood vaccines; Overton said the MMR vaccine is not lethal and that vaccines on the U.S. market are safe and effective per FDA standards, Reuters (opens in new tab) and ABC reported.
Democrats pressed her anti-abortion record and the agency’s ongoing mifepristone review, with an Oct. 7 court-update deadline noted in coverage. Fox News (opens in new tab) separately framed the nomination around possible renewed scrutiny of abortion-drug risks. Overton is a White House Domestic Policy Council deputy who previously worked at America First Policy Institute; FDA has lacked a permanent commissioner since Marty Makary resigned in May, the cited outlets said.
A planned committee vote on surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier was postponed, Reuters (opens in new tab) reported. The Event Log treats the hearing testimony as on-record and does not prejudge confirmation.