Senate Committee Advances Trump’s Nominee for Surgeon General, Nicole Saphier
TL/DR –
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has advanced President Trump’s nomination of Nicole Saphier for the role of surgeon general. Saphier, a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth, was previously a Fox News medical contributor and is known for her criticism of how public health authorities handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this nomination, Trump pulled the nomination of Casey Means, an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after her nomination had been stalled for several months.
Washington — The Senate Health Committee advanced Nicole Saphier, Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, to the full Senate, marking progress in the nomination process.
The committee forwarded Saphier’s nomination along with a group of other nominees in a party-line vote. Saphier, a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, was nominated by Trump in April.
Previously a Fox News medical contributor, Saphier made headlines with her 2020 book, \”Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis.\” She has been notable for her outspoken critique of public health authorities’ handling of COVID-19.
Mr. Trump lauded Saphier as a \”STAR physician\” and \”an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR.\”
![\"Nicole](\"https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2026/09/30/cd2b73c1-c55c-4ca9-bd34-2f84a09ed871/thumbnail/620x413/23064c9d471941abab0b111568637b5c/gettyimages-2295097010.jpg#\")
Eric Lee/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Saphier’s nomination followed the withdrawal of Casey Means’ nomination after its stagnation in the Senate. Trump blamed GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, citing disloyalty, and Cassidy’s hesitance over Kennedy’s nomination. Cassidy eventually supported Kennedy, allowing his approval to proceed.
In committee appearances, Cassidy asked Saphier to clarify her stance on vaccines. Saphier addressed vaccine safety, encouraged vaccination, and dismissed links between vaccines and autism. Cassidy subsequently expressed his vote of confidence in Saphier on \”Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan\”, citing her statements on vaccines.
Cassidy praised Saphier’s honesty regarding vaccines, saying, “When somebody is willing to tell the American people that vaccines are safe and essential, what more could you ask for?”
Kathryn Watson contributed to this report.
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