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# Senate HELP Committee Plans 11/18 Vote on Overton FDA Nomination
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/senate-help-committee-plans-11-18-vote-on-overton-fda-nomination/
- Published: 2026-11-11T23:57:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-11T23:58:07.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has [announced](https://www.help.senate.gov/rep/newsroom/press/next-week-senate-help-committee-to-vote-on-labor-education-health-nominations?ref=fdaweb.com) an 11/18 vote on President Trump's nomination of **Heidi Overton** as FDA commissioner, setting up a potentially contentious confirmation effort before Democrats take control of the Senate in January. The White House is reportedly preparing an alternative leadership option if her nomination fails.

Overton, a White House domestic policy adviser nominated in August, appeared before the HELP Committee 9/24 but has not received a committee vote. Her nomination faced uncertainty even before the elections, with several Republican senators expressing concerns about vaccine policy and access to the abortion drug mifepristone ([see earlier story](https://www.fdaweb.com/overton-confirmation-remains-uncertain-after-senate-hearing/)).

In an [11/10 report](https://www.washingtonsun.com/health/heidi-overtons-confirmation-fda-commissioner-doubt?ref=fdaweb.com), *The Washington Sun* said Overton cannot afford to lose a single Republican vote on the HELP Committee, where chairman **Bill Cassidy** (R-LA), and Sens. **Susan Collins** (R-ME), and **Josh Hawley** (R-MO), have not committed to supporting her.

Cassidy, a physician and longtime vaccine advocate who lost his Republican primary, has expressed concerns about Overton's qualifications and her involvement in Trump administration vaccine policy. Asked Monday whether he would support the nomination, Cassidy declined to comment.

Collins, who lost her reelection bid, also declined to disclose her position. Hawley told reporters he wanted additional answers from Overton concerning FDA's ongoing safety review of the abortion drug mifepristone.

The *Washington Sun* reported that anti-abortion advocates are pressing Republican senators to secure commitments on restricting mail-order access to mifepristone before supporting Overton.

### **White House Reportedly Preparing Brenner as Alternative**

The administration plans to appoint former FDA principal deputy commissioner **Sara Brenner** to replace acting commissioner **Kyle Diamantas** if Overton’s confirmation bid is derailed, according to a senior administration official cited by *The Washington Sun*.

Brenner currently directs the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy. The official also said Trump had previously asked Diamantas to accept the FDA nomination, but he declined because he intended to leave the administration by year's end to spend more time with his family.

The reported contingency plan would leave FDA under another acting commissioner rather than a Senate-confirmed leader.

Overton was nominated in August to succeed former commissioner **Marty Makary**, who left FDA in May. Diamantas has served as acting commissioner since then.

Her nomination has also drawn criticism from former HHS adviser **Calley Means**, who accused her of obstructing portions of secretary **Robert F. Kennedy Jr.**'s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Means has accused Overton of pressuring Makary to approve Moderna's mRNA influenza vaccine despite his scientific objections, alleging that she conditioned assistance on other policy matters on his willingness to approve the product ([see earlier story](https://www.fdaweb.com/ex-hhs-aide-says-overton-pressured-makary-over-vaccine-approval/)).

The departure of White House Chief of Staff **Susie Wiles**, described as an advocate for Overton, has added to the uncertainty surrounding the nomination.

If the committee advances Overton, the full Senate would still need to confirm her before the current Congress adjourns. Otherwise, the nomination would expire at the end of the congressional session, requiring a new nomination in 2027.