Permanent appointments follow months of high-profile departures at FDA
The administration of President Donald Trump filled four senior positions at the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, with the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, announcing the moves.
The move gives the FDA some stability following months of controversy and upheaval that led to a series of high-profile departures earlier this year.
Under the announcement, three of the agency’s six centers received permanent directors: the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which oversees the safety and effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter drugs; the vaccines and biologics center; and the tobacco products center.
Dr. Michael Davis was named to permanently lead the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the agency’s largest center. Davis had been serving in an acting role since the departure of Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg, who said she was fired from the job in May.
Hoeg’s brief time at the agency mainly focused on scrutinizing antidepressants, COVID shots and other drugs used in children.
All three centers that received permanent directors have seen major policy shifts under the Trump administration. They have also attracted scrutiny from consumer groups, physicians and Democrats in Congress.
HHS oversees the FDA and announced the personnel moves on Tuesday.