Dr. Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, affirmed the safety of long-established vaccines during a Senate confirmation hearing, addressing concerns over the administration’s recent efforts to alter childhood immunization schedules.

Currently serving as a White House adviser, Overton has played a key role in several health-related initiatives under the Trump administration. Among these is an executive order issued last month that called for reorganizing and spacing out childhood vaccinations that have been standard practice for decades. This directive has sparked debate among public health experts and lawmakers.

During the hearing, senators questioned Overton about the administration’s motives and potential impact of changing the well-established vaccine timetable. Overton defended the administration’s position, emphasizing a commitment to vaccine safety while also suggesting that reevaluating vaccination schedules could address parental concerns and improve public confidence.

The hearing unfolded against the backdrop of controversial comments made by President Trump in the Oval Office, where he expressed unfounded fears about the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, describing it as potentially “quite lethal.” Overton was present during that exchange but maintained a more measured stance in her testimony.

Public health officials widely agree that vaccines like MMR are safe and critical to preventing serious infectious diseases. Critics of the White House’s approach worry that altering vaccine schedules could lead to reduced immunization rates, potentially increasing the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases.

As Overton seeks confirmation to head the FDA, lawmakers continue to examine how her leadership might influence the agency’s policies on vaccine approval and public health. The outcome of the confirmation process will have significant implications for the future of immunization programs in the United States.