President Donald Trump has nominated Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, a White House domestic policy aide, as FDA commissioner.
President Trump shared the announcement in an Aug. 19 Truth Social post.
“Dr. Heidi will work with Secretary Kennedy and Dr. Oz to RAPIDLY deliver on my priorities of FASTER Cures, INCREASED American Innovation, MAJOR Clinical Trial Reforms, LOWER Drug Prices, and even more MAHA WINS!” he wrote in the post.
Dr. Overton currently serves as a deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy at the White House, where she works on health issues. She previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit conservative think tank, and was a White House Fellow during President Trump’s first administration. Dr. Overton holds a medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a doctorate in clinical investigation from Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University.
The pick fills a vacancy left by former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, who resigned in May after 13 months marked by clashes with agency staff over policy decisions. Kyle Diamantas has served as acting FDA commissioner since Dr. Makary’s departure.
If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Overton would take over an agency that has seen a wave of senior leadership departures over the past year and regulates products accounting for roughly a fifth of U.S. consumer spending.
Bloomberg first reported President Trump’s plans to nominate Dr. Overton Aug. 18.
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