President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Overton currently serves as a White House health policy aide and previously worked with the America First Policy Institute. She holds an MD from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in clinical investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The appointment signals potential changes to agency priorities, including tighter oversight of pharmaceutical advertising. Dr. Overton recently joined the president for an executive order aimed at reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines.
The nomination faces immediate political resistance in the Senate. Opposing lawmakers expressed concerns regarding her qualifications and conservative policy stances.