Policy Updates: Trump FDA pick raises questions from Senate and MAHA

Trump FDA pick raises questions from Senate and MAHA (Civil Eats): President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House Domestic Policy Council deputy director and physician, to serve as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Overton previously served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute and has worked closely with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on health initiatives. The FDA has been without a permanent commissioner since Marty Makary departed in May, with Kyle Diamantas currently serving as acting commissioner.

The nomination is already facing opposition from some Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) supporters and could encounter resistance in the Senate. Critics have questioned Overton’s involvement in an executive order related to glyphosate production, while Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy has raised concerns about her management experience and role in an administration decision affecting recommended childhood vaccines. Her nomination also comes as food-safety experts criticize FDA staffing and funding reductions amid a record increase in U.S. cyclospora cases, raising questions about the agency’s ability to conduct inspections and respond effectively to outbreaks.