Trump Nominates Overton to Lead U.S. FDA
en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 19, U.S. President Trump nominated Heidi Overton, Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to serve as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The nomination still requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate, and Overton has not yet officially taken office.
Overton holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Doctor of Clinical Research degree, and is a board-certified physician in public health and general preventive medicine. She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine program, completed her general surgery residency at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and served as a White House Fellow during Trump's first presidential term.
Prior to joining the current administration, Overton served as Chief Policy Officer at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and Vice President of its Center for American Health. She currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, primarily involved in healthcare policy development and health policy efforts during Trump's second term.
Trump stated that Overton is capable of handling complex policy issues and will help advance "America First" policies such as drug approval, clinical trial reform, medical innovation, and lowering drug prices.
Former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary left office in May 2026, and the agency has since been managed by an acting head. If confirmed by the Senate, Overton will oversee the regulation of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, food, and tobacco products in the United States.
