> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# White House, Senators Fighting Over FDA Head: CNN
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/white-house-senators-fighting-over-fda-head-cnn/
- Published: 2021-07-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T17:06:12.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5149708

CNN reports that the White House and CNN can’t agree over who should be nominated as commissioner of FDA. Sources [told](https://kesq.com/news/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2021/07/14/biden-in-standoff-with-democratic-senators-over-who-should-lead-fda/?ref=fdaweb.com) the network that acting commissioner **Janet Woodcock** is no longer the front-runner for the job due to objections from some Senate Democrats. “However,” the report says, “it is unclear who else is in the running to serve as the agency’s head.”

Administration officials reportedly hoped the objections to Woodcock over what has been perceived as her role in the opioid crisis when she was CDER director would abate, but instead they intensified with the recent FDA approval of Biogen’s controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm.

“Officials are showing no sense of urgency in filling the position and blame the lack of a nominee on the intricacy of the role and finding a candidate who understands the ins and outs of the agency,” CNN reports.

Sen. **Maggie Hassan** (D-NH) said in a statement to CNN, “the rallying around Ms. Woodcock’s nomination that we’ve seen from big pharma should give everyone real pause. I have concerns about her role in approving and labeling opioid-based medications, and whether she has learned from and taken action to correct FDA’s mistakes in that area.” Hassan reportedly told Biden and the White House that the nominee needs to be someone who will act independently from the industry that is regulated.