Trump nominates aide Heidi Overton to lead US Food and Drug Administration

US President Donald Trump has nominated Dr Heidi Overton, a White House domestic policy aide, to lead the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Overton, if confirmed by the Senate, would replace former FDA chief Marty Makary, who resigned in May after clashing with the White House over the safety of flavoured vapes.

"Dr Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration," Trump posted on Wednesday. "She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and bring me solutions that work best for the Country."

Overton, who briefs Trump on health issues, spoke at an Oval Office announcement earlier this month about reducing the number of vaccinations required for children.

At that event, she criticised "blue states", (states where Democrats control local government), and called on them to follow the "gold standard" laid out in the new White House policy.

If she is confirmed as FDA commissioner, she will be tasked with a wide range of responsibilities, including assuring the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs and regulating tobacco products.

Overton, like other health officials in the Trump administration, is closely aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement.

She previously served as a chief policy officer at the conservative America First Policy Institute, a Washington think tank.

She is a critic of abortion, previously describing it as "corrosive" to women, and has called on the FDA to crack down on medicated abortion.

"We need her leadership at the FDA now to ensure that the US remains the WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES," Trump posted on Truth Social, adding: "She is SMART and RESPECTED by all!"

"Dr Overton will continue putting AMERICA FIRST, and creating a HEALTHY AMERICA," he continued.

According to US media, she was Trump's third pick for the role, after acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas and former Republican congressman Brad Wenstrup.

Her nomination comes amid criticism over the national response to an outbreak of the parasite cyclospora, and as pressure among conservatives grows for the agency to limit access to abortion drugs.

Overton received her medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, before attending Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.