Donald Trump Nominates Heidi Overton to Head the US Food and Drug Administration

US President Donald Trump has chosen Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal regulatory agency responsible for overseeing public health, drug standards, and food safety. Announcing the decision on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump stated that Overton, a policy aide and former worker at a Trump-aligned think tank, will champion “America First” initiatives at the organization.

“Today I am honoured to nominate the wonderful Dr Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, as our next FDA Commissioner,” Trump expressed in his social media post. He praised her work within his administration alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy, Dr Oz, and their team to advance health policy, noting her ability to tackle challenging issues and provide effective solutions.

Overton is nominated to succeed Dr Marty Makary, who stepped down from the role in May. Her appointment now requires confirmation by the US Senate. The announcement comes amid a strained relationship between the Trump administration and health agencies, as various staff members and experts have resisted efforts to challenge established scientific consensus on topics such as vaccines.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Overton earned her medical degree from the University of New Mexico and holds a doctorate in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to her time in the Trump administration, she served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute. During Trump's second term, she has emerged as a key member of the White House team and has publicly opposed abortion pills, a priority for anti-abortion activists pushing for stricter access limits.

Overton previously stood beside Trump during efforts to establish “most favoured nation” agreements with pharmaceutical companies aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the US. Trump confirmed that she will continue working on this initiative and other key administration promises.