Senate Committees Advance HHS Nominees, Hold FDA Commissioner Hearing
Published October 05, 2026
By AACOM GRHA
Federal Policy Leadership
- On September 24, 2026, the Senate Finance Committee advanced Gerard "Chris" Klomp to be deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by a vote of 15-12 and Ge Bai to be assistant secretary for planning and evaluation by a vote of 14-13.
- The same day, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, nominee for the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but did not vote on her nomination.
- On September 30, 2026, the Senate HELP Committee voted 12-11 along party lines to advance three HHS nominees en bloc: Nicole Saphier to be surgeon general, Mary Lazare to be assistant secretary for aging and Timothy Westlake to be assistant secretary for mental health and substance use.
- The Senate has not announced floor votes on any of these nominees.