Senate Gets It Done With a 53 - 46 Vote - President Donald Trump is Celebrating After Republicans Have Advanced a Nomination of...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 2, 2026
The United States Senate has advanced the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. The vote was 53–46 along party lines.
Moe has served as a judge on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal since 2022. Before that, she spent nearly a decade as a circuit judge in the state’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which includes Hillsborough County. She previously worked as an assistant state attorney in Tampa. President Trump announced the nomination, stating that Moe has fiercely advocated for Florida residents in her judicial roles and will prioritize law and order.
Separately, President Trump announced he is nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier to serve as the next U.S. Surgeon General after withdrawing the stalled nomination of Casey Means. Trump praised Saphier’s medical background and her work in cancer treatment and prevention. He highlighted her role guiding patients through diagnoses and promoting early detection. Trump also pointed to her ability to communicate complex medical issues to the public, describing her as an “incredible communicator” who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans.
Saphier is a radiologist who has served as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey. She is also a regular contributor on Fox News and Fox Business, where she has commented on a range of public health issues. Her nomination follows the withdrawal of Casey Means, whose confirmation effort faced months of resistance in the Senate. Means, a wellness entrepreneur aligned with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, had drawn scrutiny over her medical background and positions on vaccines.
Trump placed blame on Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) for the failed nomination of Means. Cassidy, a physician and chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, had raised concerns during the confirmation process. Trump suggested in a separate post that voters in Louisiana should consider replacing Cassidy in the upcoming Republican primary.
Cassidy has been a key Republican voice on health-related nominations and policy matters. His position on the committee gives him significant influence over whether nominees advance to a full Senate vote.
Saphier now enters the confirmation process as the administration seeks to fill one of the nation’s most visible public health roles. The Surgeon General serves as the federal government’s leading spokesperson on public health and medical issues. Her nomination comes as the administration continues to emphasize its broader health policy agenda. Trump has framed the effort around prevention, communication, and reshaping public trust in health institutions.
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If confirmed, Saphier would take on a high-profile position responsible for addressing national health challenges and advising the public on medical issues. The timeline for Senate consideration of her nomination has not yet been announced.
The developments reflect the administration’s ongoing efforts to fill key judicial and public health positions. The Senate confirmation process for both nominees will continue in the coming weeks. The outcomes could influence public perception of the administration’s priorities in the federal courts and public health policy heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
