Trump nominates White House aide Heidi Overton as FDA commissioner

President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Heidi Overton, M.D., Ph.D., a current White House aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

Overton earned her medical degree from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate in clinical investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has served as a White House fellow, worked at the America First Policy Institute, and most recently acted as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

The nomination comes after a three‑month vacancy following former commissioner Marty Makary's departure in May, and Overton will appear before the Senate for confirmation.

The administration’s choice places a policy‑focused official at the helm of the agency that oversees drug approvals and safety.