Robert Califf narrowly confirmed FDA commissioner
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Robert Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, a key agency overseeing the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA had been without a permanent chief for 13 months. The vote was 50 to 46; with four Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voting against Califf and six Republicans supporting his confirmation.
When President Biden nominated Califf, a cardiologist and expert in clinical trials, in November, the White House envisioned an easy confirmation, given that the Senate voted 89-4 to approve his first, brief stint as FDA chief in 2016. But some Democrats expressed concern that he would not be tough enough on the drugmakers because of his industry ties, and many Republicans voted no because of pressure from abortion advocates angry over the FDA's moves to broaden access to the abortion pill.
The White House put in a lot of effort to get Califf across the finish line, including having him meet with more than a dozen senators to address their concerns. Califf will now help steer key decisions on COVID-19 vaccines — including whether to approve vaccines for kids under 5 — treatments, and tests, as well as how the FDA regulates tobacco products. But the FDA has a broad reach, regulating "products that account for 20 cents of every dollar spent by consumers," from food to prescription drugs to "medicinal maggots for wound care," The Washington Post notes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Califf said his focus would be on the COVID-19 response, emergency preparedness, modernizing the FDA, and improving patient protections, The Wall Street Journal reports. Dr. Janet Woodcock, a veteran drug regulator who has led the FDA since January 2021 as acting commissioner, informed staff she will stay on principal deputy commissioner, the FDA's No. 2 position.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 22, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - the long and short of it, trigger finger, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of Christmas
Cartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Inside the house of Assad
The Explainer Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, ruled Syria for more than half a century but how did one family achieve and maintain power?
By The Week UK Published
-
Marty Makary: the medical contrarian who will lead the FDA
In the Spotlight What Johns Hopkins surgeon and commentator Marty Makary will bring to the FDA
By David Faris Published
-
Drugmakers paid pharmacy benefit managers to avoid restricting opioid prescriptions
Under the radar The middlemen and gatekeepers of insurance coverage have been pocketing money in exchange for working with Big Pharma
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
California declares bird flu emergency
Speed Read The emergency came hours after the nation's first person with severe bird flu infection was hospitalized
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu one mutuation from human threat, study finds
Speed Read A Scripps Research Institute study found one genetic tweak of the virus could enable its spread among people
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Dark chocolate tied to lower diabetes risk
Speed Read The findings were based on the diets of about 192,000 US adults over 34 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ADHD drugs shortage: what's behind it?
The Explainer Supply chain issues and 'tripling' of prescriptions concerns GPs as problems getting medication become 'desperate'
By The Week UK Published
-
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a rare but troubling health risk for cannabis users
The Explainer The illness is sending some chronic marijuana users to emergency care for painful persistent vomiting
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
ACA opens 2025 enrollment, enters 2024 race
Speed Read Mike Johnson promises big changes to the Affordable Care Act if Trump wins the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published