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# White House Looking at 3 Possible FDA Commissioners: Reports
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/white-house-looking-at-3-possible-fda-commissioners-reports/
- Published: 2026-07-09T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T13:42:38.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5161430

Referencing original reporting from the online health newsletter *Stat*, MSN says the White House is considering a final list of three contenders to be FDA commissioner — White House adviser **Heidi Overton**, oncologist and health system executive **Jeffrey Vacirca**, and Defense Department health affairs official **Stephen Ferrara**. The [report](https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/white-house-weighing-contenders-for-fda-s-top-job/ar-AA27vcLk?ref=fdaweb.com) says the finalists are being considered alongside other people who could potentially work with them to lead FDA. *Stat* said such a team approach to leadership would ensure the next commissioner would be surrounded by a balanced team.

The new commissioner would replace **Marty Makary**, who resigned following a tumultuous tenure that led to complaints from regulated industries.

*Stat* reportedly previously said that a group within HHS had become unhappy with Makary’s leadership and had spent months looking for a way to remove him.