STAT+: Heidi Overton, Trump’s pick for FDA head, to face questions at Senate hearing

Heidi Overton, the Trump administration’s pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, will appear before a Senate committee this morning at 10:30 a.m. in a highly anticipated hearing that promises to shed some light on the nominee. If confirmed, Overton, at 37, will be the youngest FDA commissioner ever. A preventive medicine physician who worked in both Trump administrations, she would take the helm of an agency that’s weathered a turbulent 18 months of politicized decisions and staff departures, and is still trying to claw back its brain trust after the 2025 reductions-in-force cut its numbers by nearly 20 percent. Overton has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and industry leaders for her relative lack of managerial experience, and also for her adherence to policies pushed by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Her role shaping the administration’s efforts to roll back the childhood vaccine schedule has drawn criticism from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe