President Trump has selected one of his top White House health aides, Dr.
Heidi Overton, as his next choice to lead the Food and Drug Administration, people familiar with the matter said.
Bloomberg earlier reported Overton’s selection. Trump ousted his last FDA Commissioner , Dr. Marty Makary, in May, after a string of management headaches for the White House and disagreement over vaping policy. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Overton previously worked at America First Policy Institute, the think tank previously helmed by Brooke Rollins, now agriculture secretary.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly praised Overton, but some of his allies have blamed her for slowing down some of his preferred Make America Healthy Again policies. Rep.
She also didn’t favor moves to loosen regulation on marijuana and boost psychedelics, though she ultimately worked to rush out Trump’s executive order on psychedelics , people familiar with the matter said. Some in the pharmaceutical industry who viewed Overton as too closely tied to Makary voiced their opposition to her nomination, people familiar with the matter said. Buddy Carter (R., Ga.), a pharmacist, was also discussed by officials as a possible nominee, people familiar with the matter said. Carter was interested in the position, a person familiar with the matter said.
Bill Cassidy (R., La.), who has blasted Trump’s recent moves on vaccines.
Overton previously trained under Makary at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was a staunch defender of him in the administration . She will need Senate confirmation and will face a hearing before the Senate’s health committee, led by Sen.
