Senate HELP Sets Hearings for 3 Trump Health Nominees as Other Picks Remain Stalled
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Sep 10
Senate HELP Sets Hearings for 3 Trump Health Nominees as Other Picks Remain Stalled
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Sep 10
Summary
Next week, the Senate HELP Committee will hold hearings for three Trump health nominees: Chris Klomp for deputy HHS secretary, Nicole Saphier for surgeon general and Timothy Westlake for SAMHSA chief.
The move revives nominations that had seen little action for months as the administration tries to advance health picks before the midterms; Klomp and HHS assistant secretary nominee Ge Bai also face Senate Finance Committee proceedings.
Sean Kaufman, Trump’s pick to lead the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, remains stuck without a floor vote even after clearing committee in July, while CDC nominee Erica Schwartz won full Senate confirmation in early August.
Heidi Overton, nominated last month to run the FDA, still has no hearing scheduled and is expected to face scrutiny over her role in Trump’s August order seeking fewer routine shots on the CDC childhood vaccine schedule.
The uneven pace underscores how Trump’s health staffing push is advancing selectively, with some nominees moving again while others face procedural delays and vaccine-related political resistance.