The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12-11 on Wednesday to advance the nomination of Nicole Saphier, MD, to be U.S. surgeon general. Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, is President Trump's third pick for the role. The vote came after a confirmation hearing earlier this month in which senators pressed her on her views about childhood vaccines.
At that hearing, Saphier said she does "not believe childhood vaccines cause autism" and described the MMR vaccine as "our greatest tool for combating measles." She also said the universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said he opposed her nomination in part because she "has questioned the need for the hepatitis B vaccine at birth," arguing the public needs a surgeon general who tells the truth about vaccines.
The committee also advanced Timothy Westlake, MD, nominated as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at HHS, on the same en bloc vote. Separately, Chris Klomp, nominated as deputy secretary of HHS, advanced out of the Senate Finance Committee last week on a 15-12 vote. Klomp faced questions about his vaccine stance and his current role as chief counselor at HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The surgeon general position carries limited policymaking power, but it gives the holder a prominent public platform on health issues. A full Senate vote has not been scheduled, though the nominees are expected to be confirmed. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who led the vaccine inquiry at Saphier's hearing, voted to advance her nomination. Senators opposing Klomp cited ongoing "vaccine chaos" at HHS under Kennedy's leadership. The source provides no indication of disagreement among the officials' stances beyond the senators'{