Senate to Vote on Califf for FDA Commissioner

The full Senate is scheduled to decide on Feb. 22 whether Robert Califf should be the next FDA commissioner, after Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) scheduled a cloture vote.

The news comes in the wake of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announcing that she would lift her hold on the nominee over genetically engineered salmon guidelines. She said in a statement that she received assurances that the FDA is taking the issue seriously.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) also placed holds in January on Califf’s nomination, citing his cozy relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA’s response — or lack thereof — to the rising opioid epidemic. Spokespeople for the three senators have confirmed that they will maintain their holds.