FDA chief nominee Overton avoided answering questions in Senate — STAT News

In Washington, United States, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Heidi Overton, answered senators’ questions about China, vaccines, access to abortion, and e-cigarettes during a Senate committee hearing.

Vaccines and mifepristone

As STAT News reports, the two-hour hearing took place in the Senate committee that must decide whether to recommend Overton’s nomination for a vote by the full chamber.

Overton, a preventive medicine physician from rural New Mexico, revealed little of her own position during the hearing on key issues within the FDA’s jurisdiction. She repeatedly referred to the agency’s existing guidance and approvals already granted, including those concerning childhood vaccines and mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortion.

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Senators’ questions

The nominee did not say whether she would support revising those guidelines or changing the approvals in line with the wishes of President Trump or Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy remarked during questioning that Overton was avoiding answers.

Overton previously worked at the White House during both of Trump’s presidential terms.