Trump to nominate Dr Heidi Overton as next FDA commissioner

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is nominating Heidi Overton, his deputy assistant for domestic policy, as the next commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Overton, a physician, is known for her pro-life views and Trump said she 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.

Heidi Overton, deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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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.

President Donald Trump, joined by (L-R) National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, The Conservateur’s Jayme Leagh Franklin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Dr. Heidi Overton, after signing an executive order updating childhood vaccine recommendations on August 10, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"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.