FDA Nominee Heidi Overton Defends Vaccine Safety in Senate Hearing

FDA nominee Heidi Overton testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday, where she affirmed that all vaccines currently on the U.S. market, including the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, are safe and effective. The testimony followed questioning from Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy regarding President Donald Trump's previous claims that the MMR vaccine could be "quite lethal." While Overton explicitly stated the MMR vaccine is "not lethal," she declined to state that the president was wrong.

Senators pressed Overton on her role in shaping an executive order that split the childhood vaccine schedule, a move opposed by vaccine makers and physicians. Democratic lawmakers also challenged her on her past characterization of the abortion pill mifepristone as "dangerous to women" and questioned her views on whether birth control is an abortifacient. Additionally, Republican Senator Susan Collins criticized the FDA's authorization of flavored nicotine pouches and vapes, which Overton defended as being based on recommendations from career staff.

Overton, a White House domestic policy adviser, is nominated to replace Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May. The nomination occurs as the Food and Drug Administration faces significant internal dysfunction and a 20% reduction in staff since the current administration took office, coinciding with rising foodborne illness outbreaks.