On Jan. 20, Dr. Robert M.
Califf bid farewell to his role as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a reflective post on X, formerly Twitter, highlighting the agency’s progress and ongoing challenges.
Califf’s departure comes at a time of uncertainty for the FDA, with the incoming administration of President Donald Trump nominating vocal FDA critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In his farewell post, Califf shared insights from his two terms as FDA Commissioner, noting the significant strides made during his most recent tenure, which began in February 2022 under President Joe Biden. “I was driven by the mission of service to the public, the tremendous people at the FDA, and the recognition that there was an opportunity to contribute to public health in the waning years of my career,” he wrote. Califf’s second stint as commissioner followed a challenging confirmation process that underscored the political hurdles faced by the FDA.
Despite bipartisan support, his nomination was met with resistance from several Democratic senators and anti-abortion advocates, largely because of concerns about his previous ties to the pharmaceutical industry and controversial approvals of opioid painkillers. During his second tour with FDA, Califf emphasized the agency’s role in addressing critical food safety issues, including responding to the infant formula crisis and outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza. He noted tha.
