The Biden administration announced Nominate Robert Califf led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for nearly a year under the leadership of the Acting Administrator.
As the former head of the FDA in the Obama administration, Califf brings his experience at the agency and his attention to his post-government work in the private sector. But his nomination has already faced opposition from within the Democratic Party.
“Dr. Robert Calif is one of the most experienced clinical trialists in the country. He has extensive experience and expertise and led the Food and Drug Administration during the critical period of our country’s fight to end the coronavirus pandemic,” Read President Joe Biden’s statement to support his choice.
President Biden issued a statement announcing his intention to nominate Dr. Robert Calif as FDA Commissioner. pic.twitter.com/bmuxOj8jKl
-Reshad Hudson (@ReshadHudson) November 12, 2021
Khalif previously served as deputy director of the agency and served as deputy director of the FDA Office of Medical Products and Tobacco under the leadership of former President Barack Obama. In this position, he gained direct experience working with the then Vice President Joe Biden in the cancer moon landing program.
As the fight against COVID-19 continues, Califf’s confirmation will make the FDA a permanent leader.Outgoing acting administrator Janet Woodcock The FDA has been leading the FDA since January. During her tenure, the agency fully authorized three COVID-19 vaccines, launched a nationwide intensified injection campaign, and continued to reassure the public about the benefits of vaccination.
However, compared with confirmed counterparts such as CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, Woodcock only serves as an agent, and therefore lacks the weight to determine FDA priorities or in inter-agency or internal disagreements Influence.
For all the experience Califf brought back to the FDA, his nomination is expected to challenge the Biden administration. Soon after his nomination was reported, Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin issued a statement opposing his relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. He described Califf’s nomination as an “insult” to the families of people who have lost loved ones due to opioid abuse.
“I have made it very clear that correcting the FDA’s culture is critical to changing the trend of opioids. On the contrary, Dr. Califf’s nomination and his important connection with the pharmaceutical industry have made us regress rather than advance,” Manchin said.
.@Sen_JoeManchin Just issued a statement against Dr. Robert Califf’s nomination of FDA commissioner, citing his relationship with the pharmaceutical industry: https://t.co/we4c1Yy3Y5 pic.twitter.com/YYLuItXvia
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) November 12, 2021
Manchin’s opposition is not new. In 2016, when President Obama nominated him to join the FDA, he opposed Califf and he joined Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in the Democratic Caucus of the opposition party.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal joined Manchin’s opposition, he told politics He also had “serious reservations” about Khalif, but did not say that he would vote against him.
After leaving the government, Califf worked at Google’s parent company letter. Before joining the FDA in 2015, Public Broadcasting Corporation According to the report, Califf has served as a consultant for several drug manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck and AstraZeneca.
Given the weak advantage of the Democrats in the Senate, Manchin’s opposition and other possible political dissidents in the party will need the support of Republican senators.This may not be a problem for Califf, he Guaranteed He was confirmed with a score of 89-4 when he was first nominated in 2016.
