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# Califf Nomination ‘Stalled’: Report
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/califf-nomination-stalled-report/
- Published: 2022-02-09T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T17:32:06.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5151117

What had seemed like an easy-to-confirm nomination of **Robert Califf** to be FDA commissioner, based on the 89-4 confirmation vote he received in 2016 when he served as commissioner in the Obama administration, is now stalled in a closely divided Senate and may not succeed. That’s the analysis by the Associated Press, which says the nomination “has been snared by political controversies on both the left and right that threaten to sink his nomination and leave FDA in limbo for months, possibly even until a new Congress convenes next year.”

Former FDAer **Stephen Ostroff**, who served as acting commissioner twice, said a failure to confirm Califf would “bode poorly for almost anyone else who could be nominated. What you’re seeing here is a lot of extraneous issues inserting themselves into the confirmation process and the same thing would happen to virtually anyone else nominated.”

The AP says five Senate Democrats are expected to oppose Califf due to his past consulting work with drug companies and the agency’s record addressing the opioid epidemic. In that instance, the administration needs to find six Republicans to support Califf. A White House official told the AP the administration remains “incredibly confident” that Califf will be confirmed.

The White House was sure that enough Republicans would support Califf given the backing he has received from the drug industry, AP says. But when the agency eased longstanding restrictions and allowed women to order abortion pills by mail, anti-abortion groups started lobbying Republican senators to reject Califf, even though he played no role in the decision, based on earlier changes affecting the bills that were made when he was commissioner.

Alliance for a Stronger FDA executive director **Steven Grossman** said it is “troubling to see Dr. Califf judged on issues that are a very small part of FDA’s responsibilities. This narrow focus increases the likelihood there will be more and longer periods when FDA is without permanent leadership.”

If Califf’s nomination continues to be held up, acting commissioner **Janet Woodcock** could continue in place while the Califf nomination is pending, followed by another 210 days after it is withdrawn or expires.