Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

November 12, 2021

I first want to thank Dr. Janet Woodcock for her leadership over the last year. She has done an incredible job leading the agency during what has been a busy and challenging time, and both she and the FDA career staff have worked hard and followed the science to ensure the American public can trust the decisions being made by the FDA.

Dr. Robert Califf is one of the most experienced clinical trialists in the country, and has the experience and expertise to lead the Food and Drug Administration during a critical time in our Nation's fight to put an end to the coronavirus pandemic. As the FDA considers many consequential decisions around vaccine approvals and more, it is mission critical that we have a steady, independent hand to guide the FDA. I am confident Dr. Califf will ensure that the FDA continues its science and data drive decisionmaking. Dr. Califf had strong bipartisan support in the Senate in 2016, and I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Dr. Califf so he can continue the important work being done at this critical moment.

Categories: Appointments and Nominations : Food and Drugs Commissioner, intention to nominate, statement.

Names: Califf, Robert M.; Woodcock, Janet.

Subjects: Congress : Bipartisanship; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts; Health and Human Services, Department of : Food and Drug Administration; Health and medical care : Research and development.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100948.

1