President Donald Trump has decided to nominate Stephen Hahn, MD, FASTRO as FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) commissioner, sources familiar with the decision told BioCentury. Other news outlets have also released similar reports.
Hahn, chief medical executive of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is HHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services) Secretary Alex Azar’s top choice for the job.
The nomination will be announced after the FBI completes background checks.
Under terms of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, Trump must nominate a permanent commissioner, or name a new acting commissioner, by Nov. 1.
Ned Sharpless, MD is expected to remain in place as acting FDA commissioner during the Senate confirmation process. There is no limit on the time Sharpless can serve as acting commissioner as long as Senate confirmation of a permanent commissioner is pending.
If and when Hahn is confirmed as FDA Commissioner, Sharpless is likely to return to his former position as director of the National Cancer Institute.
