Senate Hearing Set for FDA Nominee Dr. Heidi Overton on Key Issues
WHO:
CNN - Dr. Heidi Overton graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and was a surgical resident at Johns Hopkins University.
CNN - Dr. Nicole Saphier is Trump’s third pick for the position of surgeon general.
CNN - Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to lead the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CNN - Dr. Nicole Saphier, nominated for surgeon general.
CNN - Bill Cassidy, HELP Committee Chairman and Republican Senator from Louisiana.
CNN - Dr. Marty Makary, former FDA commissioner.
CNN - Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA commissioner.
CNN - Dr. Peter Lurie, former FDA official and president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
CNN - Sen. Patty Murray, Democrat from Washington.
CNN - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Health and Human Services Secretary.
WHAT:
CNN - Dr. Heidi Overton is 37 years old and would be one of the youngest people ever to lead the FDA.
CNN - Overton has expressed interest in streamlining the FDA's approval process for new therapies, particularly for cell therapies related to type 1 diabetes.
CNN - An op-ed published in Stat by two former FDA commissioners called Overton “the right pick in a difficult moment.”
CNN - Overton has been criticized for her participation in Trump’s executive order on vaccines, which included a call to split the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into separate shots.
CNN - Dr. Heidi Overton is facing questioning from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee.
CNN - Overton has served as deputy assistant for domestic policy in the Trump administration.
CNN - The FDA has about 16,000 staffers and a roughly $7 billion annual budget.
CNN - The FDA has lost more than 4,600 workers since 2024.
CNN - Overton is board-certified in public health and general preventive medicine.
CNN - Overton has type 1 diabetes and has expressed interest in streamlining the FDA's approval process for new therapies.
CNN - Trump stated that Overton is a "ROCKSTAR" in his administration and is known for tackling difficult issues.
WHERE:
CNN - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee is conducting the hearing.
WHEN:
CNN - The Senate hearing for Dr. Heidi Overton is scheduled for Thursday.
WHY:
CNN - Sen. Patty Murray described Overton as a "far-right, anti-abortion extremist" and stated, "I will vote no."
CNN - Overton's nomination is significant due to her expected questioning on vaccines, abortion access, and agency reform.
CNN - Concerns have been raised about Overton's limited managerial experience and her alignment with Trump's vaccine policies.
HOW:
CNN - Overton was chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank.
CNN - Overton's nomination process includes a confirmation hearing where she will be questioned by the Senate committee.
(UPDATED September 24, 2026 20:58 UTC)
Dr. Nicole Saphier has been selected by Trump as his third pick for the position of surgeon general, with Dr. Heidi Overton as a leading candidate who graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and was a surgical resident at Johns Hopkins University. At just 37 years old, Overton aims to streamline the FDA's approval process for new therapies, particularly for cell therapies related to type 1 diabetes, although she has faced criticism for her role in Trump's executive order on vaccines. Senator Patty Murray has publicly opposed Overton, labeling her a "far-right, anti-abortion extremist" and stating that she will vote no on her confirmation.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 15:58 UTC)
Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to lead the FDA, is set to face questioning from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee during her confirmation hearing on Thursday. Overton, who has served as deputy assistant for domestic policy in the Trump administration and is board-certified in public health, has expressed a desire to streamline the FDA's approval process for new therapies, particularly as she navigates concerns about her managerial experience and alignment with Trump's vaccine policies. The FDA, which has lost over 4,600 workers since 2024, employs about 16,000 staffers and operates with an annual budget of roughly $7 billion.