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Trump names Overton
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would nominate Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
““Dr. Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration,””
NBC News reported that Trump wrote, “Dr. Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration,” and said he needs her leadership at the FDA to ensure the U.S. remains the WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES.
BBC said Overton, a White House domestic policy aide who briefs Trump on health issues, would replace former FDA chief Marty Makary, who resigned in May after clashing with the White House over the safety of flavoured vapes.
The BBC also said Overton spoke at an Oval Office announcement earlier this month about reducing the number of vaccinations required for children and criticized “blue states” while calling on them to follow the “gold standard” laid out in the new White House policy.
Cassidy and Murray react
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he has “strong concerns” about Overton, writing that her “lack of managerial experience does not prepare her well for leading a large organization that is already dealing with staffing and morale issues.”
CBS News reported Cassidy also said Overton’s active role in last week’s “nonsensical vaccine executive order” calls into question her commitment to standing up for sound science and protecting children’s health.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called Overton a “far-right, anti-abortion extremist who has no business leading the FDA,” adding, “I will vote NO,” according to NBC News.
NBC News also said Republicans have a one-member majority in the committee that must advance the nomination to the full Senate for a vote, and that Overton would replace Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May after clashes with the White House over issues like vaping policy and access to abortion pills.
FDA at a delicate moment
If confirmed by the Senate, Overton would lead the FDA at a delicate time as the recent multistate cyclospora outbreak raises concerns about the safety of the nation’s food supply, NBC News said.
“with the recent multistate cyclospora outbreak raising concerns about the safety of the nation’s food supply”
BBC reported that the nomination comes amid criticism over the national response to an outbreak of the parasite cyclospora and as pressure among conservatives grows for the agency to limit access to abortion drugs.
The Guardian said the FDA has spent much of the bulk of the second Trump administration in tumult following widespread job cuts and disease outbreaks, and that Overton would take the reins of an agency tasked with regulating medication abortions, specifically the drug mifepristone.
The Guardian also quoted Overton saying, “We are going to be working directly with states so that we’re not reliant on the court case to resolve,” during a press conference for an executive order to split up the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots.
