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# FDA ‘Top Cop’ McMeekin Retiring 6/30, Then Many More
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-top-cop-mcmeekin-retiring-6-30-then-many-more/
- Published: 2023-04-17T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:25:56.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5154229

After 15 years at the agency, FDA associate commissioner for regulatory affairs **Judith McMeekin** has announced her retirement effective 6/30 – with many below her to follow suit thereafter. Speaking at a 4/14 Alliance for a Stronger FDA budget update, McMeekin said her deputy **Carol Cave** will serve as acting associate commissioner until a replacement is found. Prior to joining FDA in 2007, McMeekin was a pharmacist at PSI International for four years and a pharmacist at *U.S. Pharmacopeia* for six years.

During her remarks, McMeekin said about 22% of the Office of Regulatory Affairs’ staff are also eligible to retire, which is contributing to a challenging attrition rate. “Unfortunately, our hiring and recruitment tools cannot keep pace with our rate of attrition as investigators pursue other opportunities in the federal government or the private sector.”

McMeekin also noted that it is worrisome that Congressional funding has not kept up with ORA’s workload demands, a condition that has existed for decades. “Unfortunately, while the medical product centers have received increased funding over the years, funding for ORA’s medical and inspection work has remained flat,” she told the Alliance. Over the past eight years, ORA’s biologics program has received $9 million in increases, and medical devices received about $15 million in increases, but the food program has increased by $209 million over the same time period.