US Senate Panel Sets Hearing for Trump's FDA Pick

The U.S. Senate's health committee announced on Thursday that it will hold a confirmation hearing on September 24 for Dr. Heidi Overton. She is President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Food and Drug Administration, known as the FDA. The FDA is the government agency that decides whether drugs, medical treatments, and vaccines are safe enough for Americans to use. The hearing will determine whether the full Senate will approve her for the job.

Trump nominated Overton in August after the FDA went through a tough period. The agency lost thousands of workers, faced low morale, and was caught up in political fights over vaccines, the abortion pill, and drug approvals. Overton currently works at the White House as a policy aide and is seen as a strong supporter of Trump's 'America First' agenda. Trump chose her hoping she could bring stability back to the troubled agency.

If the Senate approves her, Overton will lead an FDA that has lost more than 3,000 employees in the past year alone. Some of those who left were top division leaders. The agency is now under pressure to rebuild trust with both the medical industry and public health groups. Many people are worried that the FDA has become too influenced by politics instead of science.

Trump's previous FDA leader, Dr. Marty Makary, quit in May after just 13 months on the job. He clashed with White House officials over rules about flavored vaping products and a delayed study on the abortion pill's safety. He also had public disagreements with drug companies about the review of medicines and vaccines that could save lives. His departure left a major gap at the top of the agency.

Overton is a doctor trained in preventive medicine, which focuses on keeping people healthy before they get sick. She serves as a deputy director at the White House Domestic Policy Council and previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. Her nomination comes as Trump's health team takes on controversial topics, including questions about vaccines and autism. Her background and views will likely be closely examined during the hearing.

Last month, Overton spoke at a White House event where Trump signed an executive order calling for big changes to the national childhood vaccination schedule. The order asked for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine — called the MMR vaccine — to be split into three separate shots instead of one. Doctors and vaccine makers quickly pushed back, saying the change was not supported by science. The move added to the growing debate about vaccines across the country.

The Trump administration is also working to fill many other empty health positions across the government. Last month, the Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. This week, Senate panels held hearings for other key health roles, including deputy health secretary and surgeon general. Officials say filling these jobs is important to getting the nation's health agencies back on track.