Trump’s picks for three top health positions face Senate committee : NPR

Key Points:

• The Senate health committee is reviewing three Trump administration nominees for top HHS positions: Dr. Nicole Saphier for surgeon general, Chris Klomp for deputy secretary, and Dr. Timothy Westlake for assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
• Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump's third nominee for surgeon general and a former Fox News contributor, faces scrutiny over her vaccine views but lacks the strong opposition encountered by the previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means.
• Chris Klomp, nominated for deputy secretary of HHS, has a reputation as a pragmatic leader and supports vaccination efforts despite skepticism from Secretary Kennedy and former President Trump.
• Dr. Timothy Westlake, nominated for assistant secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, currently serves at SAMHSA, which has faced significant staff cuts and a controversial restructuring plan under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• The confirmation hearings occur amid strained relations between Secretary Kennedy and Congress, with concerns about his broken promises and chaotic committee appearances impacting the department's leadership stability.