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# Sen. Blumenthal Likely to Oppose Califf Nomination
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/sen-blumenthal-likely-to-oppose-califf-nomination/
- Published: 2021-10-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T17:19:25.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5150396

Sen. **Richard Blumenthal** (D-CT) says he will likely oppose Duke University School of Medicine professor **Robert Califf**’s potential nomination to be the next FDA commissioner. Califf’s name is the latest to be floated for the agency top job ([see earlier story](https://www.fdaweb.com/califf-may-return-as-fda-commissioner-report/)). Califf was commissioner for less than a year at the end of the Obama administration. He had been confirmed on an 89-4 vote in 2/2016, with some senators criticizing his appointment because of his ties to drug companies that helped fund his research at Duke.

On 10/19, Blumenthal told a [Bloomberg News ](https://about.bgov.com/news/democratic-senator-warns-white-house-he-opposes-top-fda-choice/?ref=fdaweb.com)reporter that his staff reached out to the White House to express concerns with the news that Biden is considering Califf. “If he’s nominated I expect I would oppose him,” he said. Senator **Ed Markey**, who also opposed Califf due to his industry ties in 2016, told Bloomberg that he’s still looking at Califf’s record from when he ran the agency.

Due to opposition from Democrats, Biden will likely have to rely of support from Republicans to get Califf over the finish line. Bloomberg notes that more than 30 Senate Republicans who voted for Califf in 2016 still serve in the chamber.