That's why they really like to have someone who's confirmed in that position.Īll of the public health experts and scientists I spoke with for my story were flabbergasted by how the administration has let this drag on this long. The other thing that's really important, I think, to keep in mind is an acting commissioner is also just less accountable, usually to the public and also to lawmakers. They are all happening without a fully empowered leader at the helm of this agency. And here we are in the middle of a pandemic with some of the most consequential decisions on vaccines, treatments, tests. They have less ability to chart a strategic course for the agency. Second, almost more importantly, is that an acting commissioner just doesn't have as much power. First of all, there's a time limit on how long an acting commissioner can serve. PRADHAN: Yes, it does in a lot of different ways. So overall, a lot of criticism has been directed her way that she's too close to the pharmaceutical industry.įADEL: Does it matter if there is an acting commissioner instead of one who's been confirmed by the Senate? And she's also drawn complaints about the agency's approval of a controversial new Alzheimer's drug. When her name was floated, multiple Senate Democrats protested her potential nomination because of her time at the agency when opioids were approved. Woodcock has generated some opposition herself. But the president hasn't nominated her or anyone else for the permanent job.Īnd Dr. Janet Woodcock, who is a 30-plus-year veteran of the agency, has been serving as acting commissioner. Do we know if the administration has someone in mind to run the FDA? And President Obama's first FDA commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, was in place by May 2009.įADEL: And all those leaders weren't dealing with a global pandemic. For context, the Trump administration installed Scott Gottlieb within a few months. Bush administration, to find a longer delay. You'd have to go back about 20 years, to the start of the George W. How unusual is it for a new administration to go this long without having a confirmed commissioner in place? Thank you for having me.įADEL: So give us some context here.
Here to explain what's going on is Rachana Pradhan, a reporter with Kaiser Health News who wrote recently about the FDA situation. There's no confirmed leader of the Food and Drug Administration despite its central role in responding to the challenges of the COVID pandemic. As the Biden administration enters its 10th month, one of the most critical jobs on its public health team still hasn't been filled.
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