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President Trump Nominates Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Drawing Democratic Opposition

President Trump Nominates Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Drawing Democratic Opposition

President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide and deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Overton, who holds medical and doctoral degrees, previously served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. Her nomination comes after the resignation of the previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary, in May. President Trump, referring to her as 'Dr. Heidi,' praised her as a 'rockstar' who would advance his priorities, including faster cures, innovation, lower drug prices, and the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Dr. Overton has been a vocal proponent of President Trump's health initiatives, including 'most favored nation' drug deals and an executive order seeking to split the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate immunizations, a move criticized by medical groups. She has also expressed cr...
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President Trump Nominates Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Citing 'America First' Policies

President Trump Nominates Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Citing 'America First' Policies

President Donald Trump has nominated Heidi Overton to serve as the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The announcement was made by President Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he praised Overton as a 'ROCKSTAR' in his administration. Overton, a policy aide who previously worked at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute, is expected to champion 'America First' policies at the federal regulatory body responsible for food safety, drug standards, and public health. Her nomination follows the resignation of the previous FDA director, Dr. Marty Makary, in May. Overton holds an MD from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins University. She has been a trusted member of President Trump's White House during his second term and has been notably critical of abortion pills, aligning with anti-abortion activists seeking greater restrictions on access. President Trump also indicated that Overton would be instrumental in pursuing 'most...
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President Trump Nominates Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA Amidst Policy Shifts

President Trump Nominates Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA Amidst Policy Shifts

President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House aide and deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Overton, a medical doctor with a doctoral degree in clinical investigation, has been a key figure in advancing President Trump's health initiatives during his second administration. Her nomination follows the resignation of the previous FDA head, Dr. Marty Makary, in May, leaving behind several unfinished projects. Dr. Overton has actively promoted President Trump's health priorities, including 'most favored nation' deals with drug companies to lower prices and a recent vaccine order aimed at splitting the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate immunizations, a move that goes against the advice of medical groups. She has also been critical of abortion pills and is positioned to potentially roll back FDA rules that have made them more accessible. Her nomination has drawn criticism from Democratic senators, ...
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Senator Cassidy Criticizes President Trump's FDA Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton Over Vaccine Order Involvement

Senator Cassidy Criticizes President Trump's FDA Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton Over Vaccine Order Involvement

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has voiced strong concerns regarding President Trump's nomination of Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senator Cassidy, a physician, stated that Dr. Overton's involvement in the administration's recent executive order to reduce and separate childhood vaccine schedules is "almost disqualifying." He criticized her lack of managerial experience, suggesting it makes her ill-prepared to lead a large organization like the FDA, which is currently facing staffing and morale issues. Dr. Overton supports Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement and was present when President Trump signed the vaccine executive order on August 10. President Trump announced his intention to nominate Dr. Overton via a Truth Social post, three months after his first FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, resigned. Before her current role as a top White House domestic policy adviser on he...
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President Trump Selects Heidi Overton to Lead FDA Amid Staff Departures and Political Scrutiny

President Trump Selects Heidi Overton to Lead FDA Amid Staff Departures and Political Scrutiny

President Trump has chosen White House policy aide Heidi Overton to serve as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a source familiar with the matter. This selection comes months after the previous chief, Marty Makary, resigned. If confirmed by the Senate, Overton will take charge of an agency that has experienced the departure of over 3,000 staff members, including division heads, in the past year. The FDA is currently facing pressure to restore confidence among industry and public health groups due to concerns that the regulator has become overly politicized. Overton, a doctor by training, currently serves as the deputy director of the White House domestic policy council and previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. She received her medical degree from the University of New Mexico, trained in general surgery at Johns Hopkins, and pursued clinical-investigation research training at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public...
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President Trump to Nominate Dr. Heidi Overton as New FDA Commissioner

President Trump to Nominate Dr. Heidi Overton as New FDA Commissioner

President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Dr. Heidi Overton as the new commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a senior administration official. Dr. Overton, a physician, currently serves as a White House domestic policy official and frequently briefs President Trump on health-related matters. She was present earlier this month when President Trump announced an executive order aimed at reducing the number of universally recommended childhood vaccinations. If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Overton would take the helm of the FDA during a critical period, particularly with recent concerns regarding the safety of the nation’s food supply following a multistate cyclospora outbreak. The official announcement regarding her nomination is anticipated to occur this week. Dr. Overton would succeed Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May due to disagreements with the White House on issues such as vaping policy and access to abortion pills. This nomination comes after two other individual...
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Trump picks White House ally Overton to lead embattled FDA

Trump picks White House ally Overton to lead embattled FDA

By Yasmeen Abutaleb WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - U.S.
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President Trump Appoints Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA

President Trump Appoints Dr. Heidi Overton to Lead FDA

President Trump has selected Dr. Heidi Overton, a prominent White House aide, to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Overton has been actively involved in several of President Trump’s second-term health initiatives and is recognized as a strong advocate for his health-related objectives. In a Truth Social post, President Trump expressed confidence that Dr. Overton would prioritize his goals, including accelerating cures, fostering innovation, reducing drug prices, and supporting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Dr. Overton's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
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Senator Patty Murray Criticizes Trump's FDA Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton

Senator Patty Murray Criticizes Trump's FDA Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has voiced strong opposition to President Trump's nomination of Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senator Murray characterized Dr. Overton as a 'far-right, anti-abortion extremist who has no business leading the FDA.' She emphasized that the American public deserves an FDA leader who prioritizes science and facts, rather than someone focused on attacking medication abortion. Senator Murray explicitly stated her intention to vote 'NO' on Dr. Overton's confirmation. This criticism follows President Trump's announcement on Truth Social, where he praised Dr. Overton as a 'ROCKSTAR' in his administration, highlighting her role in his health agenda and her willingness to tackle difficult issues. Dr. Overton, a White House domestic policy official, was also involved in a recent executive order targeting a reduction in universally recommended childhood vaccinations, a move ...
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Dr. Heidi Overton Nominated to Lead FDA Amidst Policy Debates

Dr. Heidi Overton Nominated to Lead FDA Amidst Policy Debates

Dr. Heidi Overton, a 37-year-old physician and deputy assistant to the president on the White House Domestic Policy Council, has been nominated to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Overton previously advocated for restricting access to abortion medication and has described the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a "huge victory for life." Her policy work within the Trump administration has included coordinating revised federal nutrition guidelines, managing interagency discussions on reclassifying marijuana, and overseeing a revised childhood vaccination schedule. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles defended Overton's approach, stating that the Domestic Policy Council ensures policies are "correct, legally durable, done with policy consistency, and, in this case, medically sound." Overton joined the Trump administration in 2019 during her residency to assist with the national COVID-19 response and later returned to the White House for President Trump's second term after a period at the America Firs...
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President Trump Nominates Abortion Opponent Heidi Overton as FDA Commissioner Amidst Vaccine Controversy

President Trump Nominates Abortion Opponent Heidi Overton as FDA Commissioner Amidst Vaccine Controversy

President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, an abortion opponent, to be the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Overton has previously appeared with President Trump during a press conference for an executive order that suggested splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots. This executive order has been widely criticized by health experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), as "disheartening and dangerous," and has been cited for sowing confusion about vaccinations during the worst measles outbreak in 30 years. Overton has also expressed views on strictly regulating the abortion drug mifepristone. Her nomination comes as the FDA has experienced significant turmoil, including job cuts and disease outbreaks, during the second Trump administration.
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Trump picks White House adviser Heidi Overton to run FDA, source says

Trump picks White House adviser Heidi Overton to run FDA, source says

By Yasmeen Abutaleb and Carlos Méndez Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen White House policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, months after previous chief Marty Makary quit.