Trouble at the Top: FDA's Drug Division in Turmoil

The Food and Drug Administration's drug division is in chaos. Dr. George Tidmarsh, who leads this division, is on leave. He says it's because he spoke up about a new program. This program fast-tracks some drug approvals. He thinks it's not based on solid science. Instead, he believes politics are playing a role. Dr. Tidmarsh is a seasoned pro in the drug industry. He joined the FDA in July. He says the new program is not on firm legal ground. He offered to resign. He thinks the investigation into him is retaliation. The inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services is looking into the matter. Dr. Tidmarsh also points fingers at Dr. Vinay Prasad. Prasad is the agency’s chief medical and scientific officer. He oversees vaccines and gene therapies. Dr. Tidmarsh says Prasad creates a toxic work environment. Prasad was kicked out in July but brought back. The health department hasn't responded to questions about this. This isn't the only trouble at the FDA. There's been a wave of firings and resignations. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is at the center of it. Several top staff members have been pushed out or quit. The most notable was Susan Monarez. She was the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She lasted only a month. She says she was fired for not backing Kennedy's vaccine panel. This panel is full of vaccine skeptics. The FDA is supposed to be about science. But lately, it seems more about politics. Dr. Tidmarsh's case shows the tension. It's a critical time for the agency. The public needs to trust its decisions. But with this kind of turmoil, trust might be hard to come by.