President Trump nominated White House aide Heidi Overton in August 2026 to lead the FDA, succeeding Marty Makary. Her September Senate HELP Committee hearing addressed vaccine safety commitments, mifepristone policies, and potential administration influence, with Overton stating she would follow the law. The committee has not advanced the nomination, deferring action to the lame-duck session amid a narrow Republican majority and concerns from senators including Bill Cassidy and Josh Hawley over her prior role in childhood vaccine schedule revisions and abortion-related issues. Confirmation requires navigating these procedural and policy hurdles before any full Senate vote.