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# Trump Promises More FDA Virus Actions
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/trump-promises-more-fda-virus-actions/
- Published: 2020-03-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:07:45.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, Devices, #legacy-id-D5146361

President Trump says he has asked FDA to cut through “red tape and reduce regulatory barriers,” presumably to advance products associated with the coronavirus outbreak. During a virus press briefing at the White House 3/18, Trump said: “We’re looking at some very exciting things ... some things are happening that are quite exciting... The FDA, at my instructions, has been working very hard on a number of developments, and we'll be discussing them with you later today or tomorrow.”  

Recently, FDA has been tweaking its policies to speed virus diagnostics available to labs and hospitals. At the briefing, Trump also said the administration is working to develop self-administered coronavirus tests which could probably help improve surveillance in areas that are experiencing virus transmission spikes.

Additionally, Trump was asked about a [report](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiJvdPX%5FqToAhUDlXIEHYe5CgEQxfQBCEcwBQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Ftrump-sought-to-expand-virus-drug-tests-over-fda-objections-11584545251&usg=AOvVaw31VWDVUUkIY8TgB0G4riUh) in the *Wall Street Journal* on a pending executive order that would expand the use of investigational drugs against the coronavirus. This reportedly was met with opposition from senior FDAers who were worried about patient safety. Dodging the report, Trump said he had not seen the article, but added: “We are making a lot of progress with therapeutics.”

According to the report, the executive order would have allowed any drug molecule or cell therapy with evidence of safety to begin Phase 1 testing for patients infected with the coronavirus. The draft order, however, did not define what “evidence of safety” means.