WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has nominated Heidi Overton, a White House domestic policy aide and Gallup, New Mexico, native, to serve as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Trump announced the nomination in a Truth Social post, calling Overton a “ROCKSTAR” in his administration and a physician known for her pro-life views, according to Fox News.

“Dr. Overton will continue putting AMERICA FIRST, and creating a HEALTHY AMERICA,” Trump wrote. “She has worked directly with Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and team, to deliver on the MOST TRANSFORMATIVE Health Agenda in History. She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country.”

Overton, deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, previously served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute, which congratulated her on the nomination in a statement Wednesday.

“President Trump made an incredible choice in nominating Dr. Heidi Overton for commissioner of the FDA,” said AFPI CEO and President Greg Sindelar. “I had the pleasure of working with Heidi for a number of years, and she was a force to be reckoned with.”

New Mexico Republican legislative leaders also praised the nomination. Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, said in a statement that Overton’s path “from Gallup to the University of New Mexico to the highest levels of federal health policy” reflects the talent the state produces.

House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, called the nomination “an incredible accomplishment and a proud moment for New Mexico,” citing Overton’s New Mexico roots and medical background.

A Gallup native and UNM Combined BA/MD Program graduate, Overton holds a medical degree from the UNM School of Medicine and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She was appointed by then-Gov. Susana Martinez to the UNM Board of Regents while in medical school.

If confirmed by the Senate, Overton would take over an agency that has lacked permanent leadership since Dr. Marty Makary resigned as commissioner earlier this year.’

Updated 8/20/26 at 11:00 AM.