Trump nominates Heidi Overton to lead US Food and Drug Administration - Al Jazeera
President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the FDA, tasking her with implementing 'America First' policies within the agency. Her nomination follows the resignation of the previous director and faces potential scrutiny in the Senate.
Why it matters
The appointment could signal a major shift in FDA regulatory priorities, particularly regarding vaccines and public health consensus.
President says Overton will champion ‘America First’ policies at regulatory agency focused on drugs, public health.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Heidi Overton, US President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, speaks as an executive order on vaccines is signed on August 10, 2026 at the White House in Washington, DC, the United States [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo] By Al Jazeera Staff and The Associated Press Published On 19 Aug 2026 19 Aug 2026 US President Donald Trump has selected Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a federal regulatory body that oversees food safety, drug standards and public health.
Trump stated in a social media post on Wednesday that Overton, a policy aide who previously worked at a Trump-aligned think tank, would promote “America First” policies at the agency.
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