Trump to Nominate Heidi Overton as FDA Commissioner

Dr. Heidi Overton has been selected as President Trump's nominee to serve as the next commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency responsible for tobacco regulation among other duties. Currently serving as the deputy assistant for domestic policy, Overton acts as a liaison between the White House and federal agencies on health policy matters. During Trump's first term, she worked as a White House fellow and later joined the America First Policy Institute between his two terms. Her policy positions align closely with the Trump administration, including opposition to abortion and involvement in developing the new food pyramid. However, The Atlantic recently reported that some members of the MAHA movement have criticized Overton for potentially slowing down certain policy initiatives, such as relaxing regulations on marijuana and psychedelics. Overton was one of three finalists for the position, alongside Dr. Jeff Vacirca and Dr. Stephen Ferrara. She holds an M.D. from the University of New Mexico and a Ph.D. in clinical investigation from Johns Hopkins, where she collaborated with former FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary on opioid prescribing guidelines. Makary resigned in May, partly due to disagreements over vaping regulations, as he opposed loosening restrictions on flavored vaping products despite pressure from the administration. The FDA currently maintains two cigar regulations: handmade, non-flavored cigars are exempt from oversight following a legal challenge, while other products require approval and user fees. Overton's nomination now awaits confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

(Source：halfwheel)