DeLauro Statement on Trump Nominating Scott Gottlieb as FDA Commissioner

WASHINGTON, DC (March 10, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding news that President Trump has nominated Scott Gottlieb as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DeLauro is a senior member of the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the FDA.

"President Trump's decision to nominate Mr. Gottlieb as Commissioner of the FDA sends a dangerous message that he is committed to rolling back regulations and opening the floodgates to potentially dangerous drugs and medical devices. We have worked diligently to ensure that the FDA is an effective and lifesaving watchdog over our nation's food and drug supply and we cannot afford to roll back our progress—not when American lives are on the line.

"With Mr. Gottlieb's nomination, I am extremely concerned that President Trump will use the FDA as his go to agency for his plan to repeal two existing regulations for every new regulation proposed. We have these regulations in place to ensure that our nation's drug supply is safe, effective, and life-saving. Now that Mr. Gottlieb will oversee the FDA, he must remove himself from any pharmaceutical industry ties—of which he has many—and work for the American people, not for the drug and medical device industries."