A Senate committee spent two hours questioning President Trump's nominee for FDA commissioner, but only about 10 minutes of the session touched on food — even though the agency oversees 80 percent of the nation's food supply.

Dr. Heidi Overton, a New Mexico physician and current Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. She previously served as chief policy officer and vice chair for the Center for a Healthy America at the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute. If confirmed, she will succeed acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas, who took the post on an interim basis after Marty Makary's resignation.

Overton was a White House Fellow in 2019-2020, working in both the Office of American Innovation and the Domestic Policy Council. She is board-certified in public health and general preventive medicine. She has no experience with food policy or the food industry.

Prescription drugs, flavored vapes, vaccinations and mifepristone dominated the hearing. Several senators used much of their allotted time making statements rather than asking questions. Of the 16 senators on the committee, 10 did not mention food at all.

Overton devoted a few seconds of her opening statement to food and the FDA's responsibility to keep it safe.

What senators asked

Ranking Member Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT, spent the most committee time on food. He discussed the FDA's responsibility to investigate outbreaks and oversee recalls, and asked whether Overton would work to remove junk food advertising from television. He ran out of time before she could answer.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, raised concerns about this summer's Cyclospora outbreak and the overall number of recalls, as well as staff cuts at the FDA. She asked Overton how many people work in the FDA's Human Foods Program. Overton did not know. Murray then asked whether she could name the FDA operation that investigates outbreaks. Overton could not.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, pressed Overton on labeling of non-dairy products, specifically the use of the word "milk" on such items. Overton said she would "look at it."

Sen. Jim Banks, R-IN, asked about Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) food additives and whether the FDA has enough resources to review such substances. Overton said the agency does not. Banks also raised the issue of individual states passing their own food laws; Overton said there needs to be uniformity in such matters.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, called for science-based information about genetically engineered organisms, specifically salmon. Overton agreed such products should carry clear labeling. Murkowski also flagged federal funding cuts for state and local food safety efforts; Overton said she would work with her on the issue, though the FDA is not involved in allocating that funding.

Sen. Tom Kaine, D-VA, made no direct food-related inquiries but stated that the agency has cut much of its food safety staff and noted a 16-fold increase in foodborne illnesses.

Senators who skipped food entirely

The following 10 members never mentioned food during the hearing:

• Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-LA
• Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-AL
• Sen. Chris Murphy, D-CT
• Sen. Ashley Moody, R-FL
• Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH
• Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-DE
• Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO
• Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-MD
• Sen. Ed Markey, D-MA

The sparse questioning leaves unanswered how Overton would run an agency whose food portfolio covers most of the U.S. food supply, and operators awaiting clarity on recalls, labeling standards and GRAS reform will be watching her confirmation vote closely.