Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, went before the Senate health committee Thursday, facing questions about her stances on vaccines, flavored vapes, birth control, and abortion, among other issues.
Overton, a physician with a doctoral degree in clinical investigation, is now the deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy. The FDA is now reviewing the safety of the abortion pill, mifepristone, despite extensive data showing it is safe.
Overton also stood behind President Trump at a press conference in August during which Trump falsely called the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine “ quite lethal.”
In the hearing, Overton directly contradicted Trump on several occasions, saying at various times that “the MMR vaccine is not lethal” and that “the MMR vaccine is safe and effective.”
Hassan asked her if she thought the MMR vaccine might be lethal.
Hassan kept pressing, switching to Trump’s false claim that Tylenol taken during pregnancy is linked to autism in children.
Sen. Lisa Blunt-Rochester also asked about the vaccine claims Trump made in August, noting that reports said it was Overton herself who suggested to Trump that the combination vaccine could be split into multiple shots.
Overton replied that, in her current role, her job is to give Trump options.
The FDA has been without a commissioner since May, when Marty Makary resigned from the role after resisting Trump’s pressure to approve flavored vapes.
On April 30th, it’s a Thursday afternoon, Reynolds, one of the biggest tobacco companies in the country, makes an $8 million donation to the president.