Anna Abram Quoted in The New York Times on Vacancy in FDA’s Top Post

Akin Gump senior advisor Anna Abram has been quoted by The New York Times in the article “F.D.A. Still Lacks a Permanent Commissioner,” which reports on the impact of President Biden’s delay in choosing a permanent commissioner to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

According to the Times, there is a sharp divide between supporters and detractors of the FDA’s interim commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the longtime head of the agency’s drug division, regarding whether she should be nominated for the post. As the article notes, few public health experts think it is a good idea to allow a temporary leader to guide the agency.

Abram, a former FDA Deputy Commissioner, agrees, saying, “I find it a little perplexing. You get a grace period, but now it’s starting to get into a window of ‘what is the plan for the FDA,’ because it’s such a vitally important agency. Priorities may change depending on who is at the helm.”