Cassidy criticizes Trump's FDA pick, says her role in vaccine order is 'almost disqualifying'
The Hill · C · trust 49/100
Comments: by Finya Swai - 08/19/26 6:06 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Finya Swai - 08/19/26 6:06 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Senate Health Committee, laid out his concerns over President Trump’s choice to tap Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), saying her involvement in the administration’s recent vaccine order is “almost disqualifying.”
“While I respect Dr. Overton’s experience as a physician, I have strong concerns about her nomination to be FDA Commissioner,” the Louisiana Republican wrote in a social media post Wednesday.
Cassidy, a physician whose committee will oversee Overton’s confirmation and who lost his reelection to a Trump-backed opponent, criticized both her experience and her role in the Trump administration’s latest order to reduce and separate childhood vaccine schedules.
Overton supports Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement and stood beside the president when the executive order was signed on Aug. 10.
“Her lack of managerial experience does not prepare her well for leading a large organization that is already dealing with staffing and morale issues,” the senator continued. “Additionally, Dr. Overton’s active role in last week’s nonsensical vaccine executive order calls into question her commitment to standing up for sound science and protecting children’s health.”
He added: “That alone is almost disqualifying.”
Trump announced his plan to nominate Overton in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, which came three months after his first FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, resigned .
“We need her leadership at the FDA now to ensure that the U.S. remains the WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES,” Trump wrote of Overton, who also serves as a top White House domestic policy adviser on health issues.
Before joining the White House, Overton served as vice chair and chief policy officer at conservative think tank America First Policy Institute, which was founded by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
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