WATCH: Senators question Heidi Overton in confirmation hearing for FDA commissioner

During a Senate Health Committee confirmation hearing, Dr. Heidi Overton — President Trump's nominee to lead the FDA — voiced support for the safety of established vaccines, telling Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy that "every vaccine that is on the market has been determined to be safe and effective." However, she declined to explicitly say Trump was wrong about the MMR vaccine being "quite lethal," a remark he made while she stood beside him in the Oval Office. Cassidy, who previously saw Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fail to keep vaccine-related guarantees, pressed Overton on whether she would follow statutory requirements if asked to act against her commitments. Overton said she would "follow the statutory requirements" and give Trump her best advice.

The hearing also focused on Overton's views regarding mifepristone, the FDA-approved abortion pill. While she stated the drug "has met the safety and efficacy determinations of the FDA," she sidestepped her past writings calling mail delivery of the pill "dangerous to women." Democrats, particularly Sen. Patty Murray, pressed her to ensure decisions are science-based. Moderate Republicans Collins and Murkowski, who support abortion access, are key votes; however, Collins focused her questions on new FDA decisions allowing flavored e-cigarettes on the market.

If confirmed, Overton would lead an agency that has lost about 20% of its staff since Trump took office and is navigating controversial projects including an abortion pill safety review. Like her predecessor Dr. Marty Makary, she lacks experience running a large bureaucracy. She reported no healthcare or food company investments, a contrast to recent nominees, and carries $50,000–$100,000 in student loans.

(Source：PBS)