Thompson Denies Rumors of FDA Commissioner Recommendation

Speaking Sept. 28 at Georgetown University, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson denied that he recommended Lester Crawford, director of Virginia Tech's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, to serve as the new FDA commissioner. Asked by a reporter, "What are qualities that Lester Crawford has that you think would make him a good FDA commissioner?" Thompson said, "You'd have to talk to him. I don't know if he's going to be the FDA commissioner." Thompson said that Crawford represents only "one of many" candidates who he has considered for the position (Kotzman, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/1). According to a Sept. 27 Reuters report, industry analysts said that Thompson "urged" the White House to nominate Crawford for the position. White House and HHS representatives declined to comment on the report. In the past, Crawford has directed the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and served on an agency advisory panel that monitors mad cow and related diseases. The FDA has not had a commissioner since former FDA Commissioner Jane Henney left the agency in January. Bernard Schwetz, a deputy to Henney, has served as acting commissioner (Reuters, 9/27).