Heidi Overton Faces Senate Scrutiny

Dr. Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FDA, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing. Overton is a White House health aide and domestic policy adviser, giving her prior proximity to the administration’s vaccine and drug-policy decisions. Trump has backed changing the childhood vaccine schedule and suggested the MMR shot could be dangerous; Overton said it is safe, effective, and the best tool against measles. Senators pressed whether she would stand up to Trump, while she said she would follow the law and give her best advice. If confirmed, she would inherit an agency already reviewing mifepristone.