Who is Dr. Heidi Overton? Trump picks top White House aide to lead FDA

Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House aide, has been appointed by President Donald Trump to head the Food and Drug Administration. Overton, a medical doctor and deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, has been involved in several of Trump's health initiatives during his second term. If confirmed by the Senate, she will have to manage complex priorities, including the president's strong views, conservative Republicans' anti-regulatory stance, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-corporate approach.

Her selection comes after the previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary, resigned in May, leaving behind uncompleted projects such as work on ultraprocessed foods, antidepressants, and COVID-19 shots.

Trump described Overton as a "rockstar" who would deliver on his priorities, such as faster cures, innovation, lower drug prices, and support for Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Kennedy praised Overton's exceptional judgment, professionalism, discipline, and commitment to the American people. Overton has actively promoted Trump's health priorities, attended events alongside the president, and supported various projects, including deals to lower drug prices and changes to the MMR vaccine.

Overton, who holds a medical degree from the University of New Mexico and a doctoral degree in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University, previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. In recent months, she has appeared with the president at events announcing key projects, such as lower drug prices and a proposed change to the MMR vaccine's composition.

However, she has also faced criticism, including for her stance on abortion pills and her false assertion about the link between vaccines and autism during an Oval Office event.

To be confirmed by the Senate, Overton must gain approval from a Republican-led chamber and face questioning from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The chair of this committee, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, has been vocal in criticizing Trump's actions regarding vaccine skepticism. Democratic senators have expressed concerns about Overton's nomination, with Senator Patty Murray calling her a "far-right, anti-abortion extremist" who should not lead the FDA.