Dr. Heidi Overton is scheduled to appear before a Senate committee for her confirmation hearing to become the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The hearing takes place on Thursday, where lawmakers question her on her qualifications and policy views for the FDA.
According to NPR, senators on the Senate HELP committee focus their questioning on several specific areas, including vaccines, mifepristone, and food safety. NPR also reports that lawmakers ask how Overton would handle requests from the White House, including whether she can tell the president he is wrong if she believes agency action should differ.
ABC News provides the basic framework for the event, noting the timing and that it is a confirmation hearing for the incoming FDA commissioner. Across the outlets, the central point is the same: Overton faces Senate scrutiny before taking the FDA leadership role.
