President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Dr. Heidi Overton to be his new FDA commissioner, according to a senior administration official.
Overton, a physician, is currently a White House domestic policy official who regularly briefs the president on various health issues. She was at his side earlier this month in the Oval Office when Trump announced an executive order aimed at reducing the number of universally recommended childhood vaccinations.
If she is confirmed by the Senate, Overton would lead the agency at a delicate time, with the recent multistate cyclospora outbreak raising concerns about the safety of the nation’s food supply.
Bloomberg was the first to report that Overton would be Trump’s FDA pick. The timing of the official announcement is unclear but is likely to be sometime this week.
Overton would replace Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned from the position in May after clashes with the White House over issues like vaping policy and access to abortion pills.
