The FDA is susceptible to a reshuffle under President-elect Donald Trump, whose plans to “Make America Healthy Again” would have ramifications for an agency responsible for drug approvals and food and cosmetics safety.
“I expect him to put a firm hand on agencies like the FDA,” said Lawrence Gostin, co-faculty director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. “Trump has made very clear that he wants to influence, if not control, federal health and scientific agencies.”
Trump hasn’t revealed details of his agenda, but his promise to allow vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “go wild” on health care puts the focus on the FDA’s role in vaccine policy, abortion medication access, and even the science that underpins its work.
“His influence and that of a potential RFK Jr. in his inner circle could try to appoint officials at the agency and influence them on key scientific issues, particularly on vaccinations and abortion medications like mifepristone,” Gostin said.
Kennedy has made remarks signaling major changes to the agency if he were to take leading role, including comments he shared in October on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” he wrote Oct. 25. “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records,...
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