WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday named White House policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration months after the previous chief quit, writing online that she would push his “America First” policies.
Overton, a doctor by training who serves as deputy director of the White House domestic policy council, must be approved by the U.S. Senate. She previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.
“She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “We need her leadership at the FDA now to ensure that the U.S. remains the WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES.”
The nomination comes as Trump health officials have sought to take action on a number of controversial issues, including autism and vaccines as well as the abortion pill.
Trump’s previous FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, resigned in May after 13 months in the job.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Susan Heavey; Editing by Ryan Patrick Jones and Alison Williams)
