# Trump's FDA pick dodges questions on birth control

> Dr. Heidi Overton refuses to clarify her stance on IUDs and abortion pills during her Senate confirmation hearing.
- Title: Trump's FDA pick dodges questions on birth control | Shortify
- Summary: Dr. Heidi Overton refuses to clarify her stance on IUDs and abortion pills during her Senate confirmation hearing. Overton's evasive answers about whether…
- Keywords: heidi overton, fda commissioner, trump administration, senate confirmation hearing, iuds, mifepristone, abortion pills, birth control, reproductive rights, senate help committee, patty murray, maggie hassan
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/trumps-fda-pick-refuses-to-say-iuds-dont-cause-abortions-birth-control-extremist-reproductive-rights-senate-hearings
- Author: Nina Martin
- Published: 2026-09-24T16:01:55+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: heidi overton, fda commissioner, trump administration, senate confirmation hearing, iuds, mifepristone, abortion pills, birth control, reproductive rights, senate help committee, patty murray, maggie hassan
## Trump's FDA pick opens with Jesus
Dr. Heidi Overton began her Senate confirmation hearing by thanking her lord and savior, Jesus Christ, setting the tone for a hearing focused on her anti-abortion views.
## Overton won't say IUDs don't cause abortion
When asked if she agrees that IUDs are abortifacients, Overton refused to answer and suggested the FDA could change its stance on the issue if she's confirmed.

> If I'm confirmed as FDA commissioner, I'll be fully briefed on all their prior decisions and make determinations according to the standards of safety and efficacy.
## Trump DOJ also won't defend birth control
The Trump Department of Justice has refused to say in an active court case that certain forms of birth control don't cause abortions, aligning with anti-abortion groups that oppose IUDs and emergency contraception.
## She called abortion pill dangerous
Overton wrote in 2023 that mifepristone is dangerous to women, contradicting the FDA's approval and scientific evidence showing the drug is safe and effective.
## Overton dodges on mifepristone safety
When pressed on whether she believes mifepristone is safe, Overton repeatedly said only that it met FDA safety standards, using past tense language that suggested she may not agree.

> I know that it has met the safety and efficacy standard.
## She cited a slow-walked FDA review
Overton referenced an ongoing FDA review of mifepristone safety, which former FDA head Marty Makary reportedly delayed so it wouldn't be complete until after the midterm elections.
## Five lawsuits challenge mifepristone rules
Three lawsuits filed by abortion-hostile states claim the FDA's regulation is too lax, while two filed by abortion providers say the FDA maintains too many restrictions on the medication.
## Overton showed detailed litigation knowledge
Despite appearing unfamiliar with some FDA operations, Overton demonstrated significant knowledge of mifepristone lawsuits and mentioned a required October update in a case filed by Louisiana.
## One Republican raised rural access concerns
Senator Lisa Murkowski worried that requiring in-person appointments for mifepristone would hurt rural residents, while pro-choice Republican Susan Collins asked no abortion questions.
## Doctors call nomination insulting
Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, board chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said Overton's nomination is insulting to the FDA and accused her of using her physician status to deceive the public about safe medications.

> As mifepristone is under scrutiny at the state and federal levels, Dr. Overton leverages her status as a physician to deceive the public about medications we know are safe.
## Key takeaway

Overton's evasive answers about whether IUDs cause abortions and whether mifepristone is safe suggest she may roll back access to both forms of contraception if confirmed.