President Donald Trump has selected Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency responsible for regulating food safety, pharmaceutical standards, and public health, according to a social media announcement on August 13 (local time).
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Overton a "star" in his administration, having worked directly with Health Secretary Kennedy and Dr. Oz to implement what he described as the most transformative healthcare agenda in history. He also asserted that she has the ability to tackle the toughest problems and deliver the best solutions for the country.
Overton, who holds an M.D. from the University of New Mexico and a Ph.D. in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University, previously served as policy director at the America First Policy Institute, an organization dedicated to advancing Trump's priorities.
She has been nominated to fill the vacancy left by former FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May. Overton's nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
The Trump administration has had a fraught relationship with health agencies, as many employees and experts have expressed discontent over the president's attempts to overturn long-standing scientific consensus on issues such as vaccines.
Overton is known to be a critic of abortion pills, a focal point for anti-abortion activists. She has also appeared alongside Trump in campaigns promoting "most favored nation" agreements with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices in the U.S.
