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Democrats blast Trump FDA nominee Overton
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Democrats blast Trump FDA nominee Overton. The Senate confirmation fight over the FDA's next leader begins.
Background
President Trump is said to be planning to nominate Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House official and proponent of the administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda, to lead the FDA. If confirmed, she would succeed Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned as commissioner in May. Democrats have voiced opposition, setting up a contentious confirmation battle.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Dr. Marty Makary resigned as FDA commissioner.
- Aug 18, 2026Bloomberg News reported that Overton is expected to be nominated to run the FDA.
- Aug 19, 2026The New York Times reported that Trump is said to be planning to nominate Overton, and Democrats blasted the choice.
Who’s saying what
- Democrats
- Democrats have criticized Overton's nomination, though specific objections were not detailed in the material.
- White House
- The White House has defended Trump's ability to vote by mail, but no official statement on Overton was included.
Still unverified
The nomination is said to be planned but not officially announced; specific reasons for Democratic opposition are not detailed in the material.