Senators to question FDA nominee about her views on abortion pill and vaccines
Senators will question FDA nominee Dr. Heidi Overton about vaccines, abortion pills, and her conservative policy background.Summary
Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, will face Senate confirmation hearings on Thursday, with lawmakers expected to focus on her positions regarding vaccines, the abortion pill mifepristone, and other contested regulatory issues. A physician and former White House fellow, Overton has deep ties to conservative organizations including the America First Policy Institute, where she authored papers criticizing abortion and transgender care. If confirmed, she would oversee a safety review of mifepristone, plans to break up combination vaccines, and relaxed rules for flavored e-cigarettes—three policies that break from longstanding FDA positions. Her support for spacing out vaccinations drew criticism from Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, who called it "almost disqualifying," though she may find common ground with some Republicans on restricting abortion access. Her strong opposition to abortion could complicate her confirmation with moderate Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. The previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary, resigned in May amid internal turmoil, and the agency has lost approximately 20% of its staff since Trump took office. Overton reported no investments in health care or food companies in her financial disclosures.
(Source：ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos)
