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See the full story · 19 sourcesPresident Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is nominating Dr. Heidi Overton, his deputy assistant for domestic policy, as the next commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Trump said Overton, a physician known for her pro-life views, has been a "ROCKSTAR" in his administration so far.
"Dr. Overton will continue putting AMERICA FIRST, and creating a HEALTHY AMERICA," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
"She has worked directly with Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and team, to deliver on the MOST TRANSFORMATIVE Health Agenda in History. She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country," Trump added.
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In Overton's current role, she regularly briefs the president on various health issues.
Earlier this month, Overton was at Trump's side in the Oval Office as he signed an executive order that aimed to overhaul how many vaccines are recommended to children .
A memo on the order recommends children receive immunizations for 11 diseases, fewer than the 18 current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
It also called for shots to be spaced out in separate visits, while ending recommendations that all minors receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
At the time, Overton urged blue states to adopt the Trump administration's "gold standard" recommendations, despite pushback from doctors.
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"Heidi is ‘ALWAYS RIGHT,’ Secretary Kennedy recently said in the Oval Office!" Trump said, referring to the vaccine executive order signing event on Aug. 10. "We need her leadership at the FDA now to ensure that the U.S. remains the WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES."
If confirmed by the Senate, Overton would replace former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who resigned from the role in May after he clashed with administration critics who had grown frustrated with his handling of several high-profile FDA decisions.
According to various media reports, acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas was not interested in taking the position permanently.
Overton, who also had a brief stint in the first Trump administration, has expressed opposition to abortion. If she becomes the head of the FDA, she will lead an agency that regulates abortion medication, most notably the drug Mifepristone.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, women have increasingly turned to medication abortion to get around state bans.
In a February 2023 policy brief, Overton denounced what she called "chemical abortion."
"Abortion is corrosive to children, women, and society broadly because it devalues and extinguishes innocent human life. Unfortunately, federal policymakers have recently expanded access to abortion pills, also called chemical abortions, which are far more dangerous to women, enabling rapid access to abortion," she wrote at the time.
Overton would also take the reins at the FDA at a critical moment, as the U.S. grapples with a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora .
Before returning to serve in the White House, she served as vice chair and chief policy officer of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.
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