"Heidi Overton works on the White House's Domestic Policy Council. She would replace Marty Makary, who resigned in May after months of turmoil at the agency."
"President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will nominate Heidi Overton, a top aide at the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, to serve as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
If confirmed, Overton would succeed Marty Makary in a position that is one of the most powerful in U.S. health care, with the agency’s sweeping mandate touching the daily lives of every American. The FDA oversees drugs, vaccines, tobacco products, the bulk of the food supply and more.
“Dr. Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration, where she has worked directly with Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and team, to deliver on the MOST TRANSFORMATIVE Health Agenda in History,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country.”
The administration struggled to fill the open role, with some outside candidates turning it down amid fears of political interference over FDA decisions. The selection process also has lasted weeks longer than expected, with Trump opting for a familiar face already in his administration.
A physician who is board-certified in public health and general preventive medicine, Overton previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank."
Rachel Roubein and Dan Diamond report for the Washington Post August 19, 2026.
