Another FDA Political Appointee Falls in House Cleaning

FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn has ousted associate commissioner for external affairs John Wagner, a political appointee in his post for about two months, as part of the purge to right the ship in the wake of Hahn’s missteps in exaggerating convalescent plasma’s Covid-19 use (see earlier story). Last week, Hahn removed newly appointed chief spokeswoman Emily Miller after being on the job for less than two weeks. The former reporter for right-wing cable network One America News and huge supporter of president Trump was criticized for spreading plasma misinformation and her limited understanding of science and health issues.

Hahn says that FDA press officer Heidi Rebello will act as associate commissioner for external affairs, and that Michael Felberbaum will serve as acting assistant commissioner for media affairs, replacing Miller, who remains at FDA in an advisory role. Wagner is moving to HHS to work on Operation Warp Speed, the government’s coordinated effort to speed Covid-19 vaccines and therapies.