Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump's Third Surgeon General Nominee, on September 16 as Position Remains Vacant Throughout Second Term

September 16, 2026

Sources: NBC News, Washington Post, NPR via WSIU, Local 10, ECIKS, Wikipedia. Hearing held September 16 confirmed across all outlets. Saphier background as radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Fox News contributor verified in Washington Post and NBC News. DropRx ownership and kava kava FDA warning on liver injury reported by NBC News. Ethics filing divestment language from NBC News. Casey Means nomination stall over vaccines and Nesheiwat withdrawal over credentials confirmed by NBC News, NPR and Local 10. Measles worst year in decades and Cassidy terrible legacy quote verified in Local 10 reporting. Chris Klomp and Timothy Westlake co-nominees confirmed by NPR.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing on Wednesday September 16 for Dr. Nicole Saphier, President Donald Trump's third nominee to serve as surgeon general, in the latest attempt to fill the post known as the nation's doctor that has remained vacant throughout Trump's second term. Saphier, 44, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and former Fox News Channel contributor, appeared before lawmakers alongside two other Trump administration health nominees. She is Trump's newest pick after entrepreneur and wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means saw her nomination stall in the Senate over her background and vaccine views following a contentious February hearing, and after Trump withdrew his first nominee, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, when questions arose about her academic credentials. Saphier owns DropRx, a firm that produces controversial unregulated tinctures, concentrated liquid extracts promoting focus and calm that contain ingredients including kava kava root, which the FDA has described as potentially causing severe liver injury. Her ethics filing states she will resign from her position with DropRx and Empower MD LLC, which owns DropRx, if confirmed, and that she would partially or fully divest from holdings that would present a conflict to serving as surgeon general. Senators are expected to press Saphier on vaccines, her past public comments on vaccine policy, and whether she will more fiercely advocate vaccination if confirmed, particularly as the US endures its worst year for measles in decades with multiple measles deaths occurring under the current administration. Lawmakers of both parties have criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine stances and efforts to scale back vaccine guidance, and Saphier will be in the difficult position of navigating Kennedy's more contentious policies. Senate HELP Committee Chair Senator Bill Cassidy noted at the start of th