Trump taps White House adviser Overton to lead FDA

WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - ‌U.S. President ​Donald ​Trump on Wednesday named White House policy aide Heidi Overton to ‌lead the Food and Drug Administration ⁠months after the previous chief quit, writing online ‌that she would push ‌his "America First" policies.

Overton, a doctor by training who serves as deputy director of the ​White House domestic policy council, must be approved by the U.S. Senate. ⁠She previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a ​conservative think tank.

"She is known to take on the HARDEST issues, and ​bring me solutions that work ‌best for the Country," Trump wrote in a social media post. "We ⁠need her leadership at the FDA now to ensure that the U.S. remains the ⁠WORLD LEADER for Scientific Discovery and CURES."

The nomination comes ​as Trump health officials have sought to take action on a number of controversial issues, including autism ‌and vaccines as well as the abortion pill.

Trump's previous FDA commissioner, ‌Marty Makary, resigned in May after ⁠13 months in ‌the job.

(Reporting by ​Ismail Shakil and Susan Heavey; Editing by Ryan Patrick Jones and Alison ‌Williams)

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