Three takeaways from Trump health nominees’ Senate hearing

Three nominees appeared before one committee

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a Wednesday hearing on three of President Donald Trump’s health nominees. Nicole Saphier was among the nominees considered by the committee.

The joint hearing gave senators an opportunity to review all three nominations in the same session. Although the panel’s jurisdiction includes education and labor, Wednesday’s proceeding centered on Trump’s choices for health posts.

The surgeon general search remains notable

One of the three nominees is Trump’s third choice to serve as U.S. surgeon general. That made the nomination a central point of interest even as the committee considered it alongside two other health appointments.

The surgeon general is a federal health position requiring Senate consideration. Wednesday’s hearing placed Trump’s latest choice before the HELP Committee as part of that review.

The tone was restrained

The latest group of nominees appeared to give senators answers that more closely matched what lawmakers were seeking. That contributed to a relatively calm hearing rather than one defined by sustained conflict between committee members and nominees.

The hearing itself did not settle the nominations. Attention now turns to whether the HELP Committee takes additional action on the three nominees and whether their nominations advance for consideration by the full Senate. Each nominee’s path will depend on the Senate’s next procedural decisions.