Aug 21, 2026 · 8 min · 5 segments
President Trump taps a White House health policy aide to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Health insurers denied at least 12% of prior authorization requests across all insurance markets last…
[outro music] President Trump has tapped Dr. Heidi Overton to take the helm of the Food and Drug Administration.
She currently serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and regularly briefs the president on various healthcare policy issues.
Prior to joining the White House, she was vice chair and chief policy officer at the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute.
The president announced the impending nomination on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supported Dr. Overton's nomination in a post on X, writing that she brings, quote, "Exceptional judgment, professionalism, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the American people." Unquote.
Outgoing Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said in a post on X that though he respects Dr. Overton's experience as a physician, he's concerned about her lack of managerial experience and about her hand in President Trump's recent executive order that aims to scale back the childhood vaccine schedule.
If she's confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Overton would take the helm of the agency that has been without a permanent commissioner since Dr. Marty Makary resigned in May.
The FDA has also been rocked by mass layoffs and resignations of career officials.
The agency is currently investigating multi-state outbreaks of severe foodborne illnesses, including cyclosporaosis and salmonella.
[outro music] President Trump has tapped Dr. Heidi Overton to take the helm of the Food and Drug Administration.
She currently serves as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and regularly briefs the president on various healthcare policy issues.
Prior to joining the White House, she was vice chair and chief policy officer at the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute.
The president announced the impending nomination on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supported Dr. Overton's nomination in a post on X, writing that she brings, quote, "Exceptional judgment, professionalism, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the American people." Unquote.
Outgoing Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said in a post on X that though he respects Dr. Overton's experience as a physician, he's concerned about her lack of managerial experience and about her hand in President Trump's recent executive order that aims to scale back the childhood vaccine schedule.
If she's confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Overton would take the helm of the agency that has been without a permanent commissioner since Dr. Marty Makary resigned in May.
The FDA has also been rocked by mass layoffs and resignations of career officials.
The agency is currently investigating multi-state outbreaks of severe foodborne illnesses, including cyclosporaosis and salmonella.
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