NEWS | Updated August 21, 2026
President Donald Trump has selected Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House health-policy aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration, opening a Senate confirmation debate over the agency’s direction.
The Nominee
Overton is a physician who has served in the White House domestic-policy operation. If confirmed, she would take charge of an agency responsible for the safety and effectiveness of medicines, devices, vaccines, food and tobacco products.
The position requires Senate confirmation. Overton would succeed Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May, and inherit several unfinished regulatory priorities.
Support and Scrutiny
Trump says Overton would advance his Make America Healthy Again agenda. Supporters point to her medical background and proximity to the administration’s policy work.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the committee that oversees the nomination, has said he respects her medical credentials but has concerns about management experience and her role in recent vaccine policy. Democratic critics have raised separate objections.
Why This Matters
FDA leadership affects the medicines Americans can access and the enforcement standards applied across a large share of the economy.
What to Watch
Watch for nomination paperwork, a Senate hearing and specific commitments on drug review, food safety and vaccine policy.
Sources
- Associated Press: Trump picks Heidi Overton
- CBS News: nomination and Senate reaction
- FDA: Office of the Commissioner
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