What to know about Dr. Heidi Overton, Trump's pick to lead the FDA
President Trump has tapped one of his top White House health policy aides, Dr. Heidi Overton, to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton has been a strong supporter of the president's health agenda, including efforts to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule, changes that have drawn sharp criticism from medical experts. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Lauren Gardner of Politico.
President Trump has appointed Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House health policy aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Overton, who is a medical doctor with an advanced degree from Johns Hopkins, has a strong background in public health and preventive medicine. She has been a vocal supporter of Trump's health agenda, including efforts to revise the childhood vaccine schedule and advocate for stricter regulations on the abortion drug mifepristone.
Her nomination comes at a critical time for the FDA, as the administration challenges traditional vaccine policies and addresses food safety concerns. Critics argue that Overton's nomination may deviate from the scientific consensus and raise concerns about foodborne illness outbreaks. The FDA has faced significant challenges due to staff cuts, impacting its ability to carry out essential functions, such as inspections and reviewing medical product applications.
Written by urgent.news from PBS NewsHour Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
