Commissioner of Food and Drugs
Commissioner of Food and Drugs | |
---|---|
Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration | |
Reports to | Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Term length | No fixed term |
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs is the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The commissioner is appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. The commissioner reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Due to frequent controversies involving the FDA, appointments are not always prompt and the agency is often headed by an acting commissioner. For example, Andrew von Eschenbach's appointment was held up by senators who objected to the FDA's refusal to allow emergency contraception to be sold over the counter.
The commissioner has frequently been a physician, but this is not a requirement for the post.
The current Commissioner is Scott Gottlieb, who was appointed by the Trump administration in 2017.
List of Commissioners
See also
References
- ↑ Campbell had previously served as Commissioner
- ↑ "Former F.D.A. Chief Is Charged With Conflict". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 Mar 2014.