FDA commissioner nominee Dr. Heidi Overton appears for confirmation hearing

Dr. Heidi Overton is appearing before a Senate committee on Thursday for her confirmation hearing as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Overton was nominated in August by President Donald Trump, who described her in a post on social media as a "ROCKSTAR in my Administration."

She is sitting before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, where she is likely to face questions about childhood vaccines and the abortion drug mifepristone .

If confirmed, Overton will be the second person to lead the FDA after the previous commissioner, Marty Makary, resigned following public clashes with lawmakers, major pharmaceutical companies and Trump over fruit-flavored vapes.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chair of the HELP committee, began the hearing by asking Overton if the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine Is lethal. Overton replied it is not.

When asked if the vaccine is safe and effective, Overton reiterated that the vaccine is safe and effective against measles.

"Are there any vaccines on the U.S. market right now which are unsafe?" Cassidy asked.

"Senator, every vaccine on the U.S. market right now is safe and effective, according to the FDA," Overton said.

Cassidy attempted to press Overton on whether she disagreed with the president on the safety and efficacy of the MMR vaccine, but Overton defelcted from answering directly.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wa., asked Overton if she believes mifepristone is safe and effective. Kennedy launched an FDA safety review of the drug last year.

"I know that it has met the safety and efficacy standard according to the FDA review," Overton replied.

Murray expressed concern over an article she said Overton published three years ago, which she said described medication abortion as dangerous to women.

She also asked if Overton believed an IUD is an abortifacient, which is a substance used to induce an abortion or terminate a pregnancy. Overton did not answer directly.

"If I'm confirmed as FDA commissioner, I'll be fully briefed on all their prior decisions and make determinations according to the standards of safety and efficacy," Overton said.