Turmoil and tensions at FDA after dramatic exit of top drug regulator

FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2020. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

After the dramatic ousting of the top drug regulator at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) two weeks ago, officials have scrambled to find a replacement in a process that has revealed the agency’s internal cracks and tensions.

It’s troubling news for a regulatory agency that has previously enjoyed a reputation for stability and consistency.