Full Breakdown
Trump Nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier Faces Senate Hearing Over Vaccine Views and Industry Ties
By Drooid · · How we work
Surgeon General Nomination Hearing (September 16, 2026)
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions convened on September 16, 2026 to consider President Donald Trump’s third nominee for U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier. A radiologist and former Fox News contributor, Saphier is director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Monmouth, New Jersey campus. The post has been vacant since the start of Trump’s second term, and the hearing comes amid a surge in measles cases and heightened scrutiny of the administration’s vaccine policies.
Background & Context
Trump’s earlier picks—Dr. Janette Nesheiwat (withdrawn in May 2025) and Dr. Casey Means (failed to secure Senate support in early 2026)—were rejected over questions about credentials and vaccine stances. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pursued an agenda that includes scaling back traditional vaccine guidance, prompting bipartisan criticism. Senate Committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy highlighted the “serious health issues” of the nation, citing the current measles outbreak as a “terrible legacy” for the administration.
Data & Statistics
- The CDC reported almost 3,300 measles cases in the United States as of September 11, 2026, with four deaths—the highest annual tally since 1992.
- Saphier’s ethics filing lists holdings in Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Philip Morris International, and $270,605 in income from her supplement company DropRx. She pledged to resign from DropRx and divest conflicting holdings.
- She has publicly questioned the universal birth-dose recommendation for the hepatitis B vaccine, a policy long endorsed by the CDC.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sen. Bill Cassidy warned that the administration’s “irresponsible” health-policy leadership threatens public confidence.
- Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told NPR that he expects Saphier to be confirmed.
Criticism & Opposition
- Public-health advocates raised alarms about DropRx’s inclusion of kava kava root, an ingredient the FDA has linked to severe liver injury.
- Critics noted Saphier’s past questioning of the hepatitis B birth-dose policy, contrasting with the CDC’s longstanding recommendation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She has no background in public health, and it shows,” — Julie Scofield
- “I believe the MMR vaccine is our greatest tool for combatting measles,” — Dr. Nicole Saphier
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Vaccine safety narrative: Kennedy has suggested the MMR vaccine could be “lethal,” while Saphier affirmed its safety. Both positions appear in the hearing record.
- Hepatitis B birth-dose policy: The Trump administration moved in December 2025 to stop universally recommending the vaccine for newborns of hepatitis-negative mothers; Saphier defended the universal recommendation, creating a policy inconsistency.
- Public-health experience: No source confirms formal training or experience in population health, leaving a gap in her qualifications for the surgeon-general role.
What’s Next
If confirmed by the full Senate, Saphier has pledged to sell her ownership stake in DropRx and to divest from any holdings that could present a conflict of interest. The Senate is expected to schedule a final confirmation vote later in the session.
