The Senate Health Committee slated a key vote next week for Dr. Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s nominee, to serve as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite her move forward not being certain.
Overton faces an unclear Senate committee vote next week, with Republican senators having questions over vaccine policies and abortion, according to a story by Newsmax.
Still, influential pro-life organizations have cautioned that the administration has not overturned Biden-era rules permitting abortion pills to be prescribed online and delivered by mail.
The vote on Overton has been scheduled for Nov. 18, yet her confirmation remains in jeopardy as Republicans rush to approve Trump nominees before Democrats seize control of the Senate in January.
On Wednesday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the committee chair and a physician, said he is still unsure about Overton, even though he met with her earlier this week.
Cassidy has caustically panned Overton’s involvement in administration efforts to limit childhood vaccination recommendations, formerly describing her role as “almost disqualifying.”
The committee chair also articulated frustration over what he depicted as broken commitments by senior administration officials.
“Over the last several months, I have had several frank conversations with both Dr. Overton and Mr. O’Neill about their visions, roles, and the lack of trust that exists due to broken promises and irresponsible decisions from other officials within the Administration,” Cassidy wrote Wednesday.
With Republicans holding only a one-vote advantage on the panel, a single GOP defection could derail Overton’s nomination if Democrats vote together against her.
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