U.S. President Donald Trump has selected White House health-policy adviser and physician Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a source familiar with the decision.
Overton Set for FDA Leadership
Overton currently serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and previously worked at the conservative America First Policy Institute. She holds a medical degree from the University of New Mexico and completed surgical training and clinical-investigation research at Johns Hopkins.
Her selection comes as the Trump administration pursues significant changes in U.S. health policy. Overton recently appeared at a White House event where Trump announced an executive order calling for changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, including separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into individual shots.
FDA Faces Leadership and Staffing Challenges
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Overton would take charge of an agency undergoing significant disruption. The FDA has lost more than 3,000 employees, including senior division officials, over the past year, according to Reuters. The agency is also facing pressure to rebuild confidence among pharmaceutical companies, researchers and public-health groups amid concerns about political influence over regulatory decisions.
Overton would succeed Marty Makary, who resigned as FDA commissioner in May after about 13 months in the position. Kyle Diamantas has been serving as acting commissioner since Makary’s departure.
Senate Confirmation Expected
Overton’s nomination will require Senate confirmation before she can formally take over the agency. Her background in health policy and her involvement in the administration’s healthcare agenda are likely to attract close scrutiny during the confirmation process.
The FDA regulates medicines, vaccines, medical devices, food products and other areas with major implications for public health. Under interim leadership, the agency has continued efforts to accelerate drug development and revise regulatory pathways, particularly for rare-disease treatments.
The White House, FDA and Overton had not immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
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