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2w ago

Senate Panel Advances Nicole Saphier's Surgeon General Nomination

Republican committee approval sends her nomination to the full Senate, raising questions about her public‑health experience and vaccine messaging.

Image
Dr. Nicole Saphier, surgeon general nominee, smiles during a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: Exterior view of the U.S. Capitol on October 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. The shutdown enters its fourth week, becoming the second longest government shutdown in history. (Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images)
U.S. Surgeon General nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier testifies before the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 16, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci

Overview

  • The Senate HELP Committee voted 12–11 on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, to advance Dr. Nicole Saphier’s nomination to the full Senate as part of an en‑bloc approval of several HHS nominees.
  • During her Sept. 16 hearing Saphier told senators she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and called the MMR vaccine “our greatest tool,” statements that helped win key GOP support from Chairman Bill Cassidy.
  • Democrats and public‑health groups have criticized Saphier for limited formal public‑health experience and for past comments that questioned some routine vaccine policies, including earlier scrutiny of the hepatitis B birth dose.
  • A full Senate floor vote has not been scheduled and is expected to occur after the midterm recess, so committee advancement does not guarantee confirmation.
  • The surgeon general serves mainly as the nation’s top public‑health communicator rather than a policy maker, so her confirmation would shape federal health messaging at a time when the administration and HHS leadership have signaled interest in reviewing parts of the childhood immunization schedule.