During confirmation hearings held in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, several senators raised concerns about President‑elect Donald Trump’s selections for senior health positions, notably Dr. Michael R. Brown, the nominee for Surgeon General. Lawmakers questioned Dr. Brown’s past statements on public health policy, his ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and his stance on pandemic preparedness. Additional nominees for the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention faced similar scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and lack of experience in managing large public‑health agencies. The committee has scheduled further hearings and indicated that any appointments will be contingent upon satisfactory responses to the raised issues.
On top of everything as it happens