STAT+: FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton keeps opinions to herself in Senate hearing

Washington — Heidi Overton, President Trump's chosen candidate to direct the Food and Drug Administration, faced intense questioning from senators on contentious subjects such as China, vaccines, and the right to choose during her committee hearing. Spanning two hours, Overton, a preventive medicine doctor from rural New Mexico who served in the White House throughout both Trump presidencies, disclosed minimal personal stances on the most pressing matters confronting the FDA.

Rather than offering her own perspectives, she frequently alluded to the agency's established guidance and approvals for products like childhood vaccines and the abortive medication mifepristone — without expressing whether she would endorse updating those guidelines or modifying approvals to align with the wishes of the current administration or health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "You've done a pretty good job of dodging questions so far," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) remarked during his line of inquiry. For the complete narrative, continue to STAT+.