Trump's FDA Nominee Says MMR Vaccine Is Safe Amid Record Measles Cases
Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Heidi Overton, told senators on Thursday, September 24, 2026, that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is "safe and effective". The Guardian
At the Senate confirmation hearing, a public job interview before a vote, Overton called the MMR shot "our best tool right now in the public health response to the measles outbreak". She said every vaccine on the U.S. market right now is safe and effective according to the FDA, the agency that clears drugs and vaccines for sale. Think of the FDA as a gatekeeper for medicines. The United States has recorded its highest number of measles cases since 1991.
The hearing was convened by the Senate HELP Committee, which handles health policy, on Overton's nomination to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs for Thursday, September 24, 2026. Senate HELP Committee It was scheduled for 10:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM CT in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Politico published live updates on September 24, 2026 covering her testimony on measles vaccine safety, and characterized that testimony as contradicting Trump. Politico
Questioning included Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, physician, and chair of the Senate health committee. Cassidy called Overton's role in Trump's August vaccine executive order, a presidential directive on vaccines, "almost disqualifying".
Overton is 37 years old. She would be the youngest-ever FDA commissioner if confirmed. She is a surgeon by training and is deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy. She served as a White House fellow during Trump's first term. She would replace Marty Makary, who resigned as FDA commissioner in May.
Scrutiny also centered on abortion regulation. In a February 2023 issue brief for the America First Policy Institute, Overton criticized federal policies allowing abortion pills to be sent through the mail. NBC News published a preview on September 24, 2026 at 2:00 AM PDT about Trump's FDA pick facing scrutiny over abortion pill access at the confirmation hearing. NBC News That preview was authored by Berkeley Lovelace Jr.
The broader context here is a confirmation test on two separate fronts. One is outbreak management, where the nominee's stated position matches the agency's existing findings on marketed vaccines. The other is regulatory leeway over politically contested products, where past policy writing and Senate skepticism carry weight. Testimony under oath creates a record. Signals from committee leadership shape the math for the floor vote. Agency credibility with clinicians, manufacturers, and state health officials will turn on whether hearing statements and later actions stay consistent.
