Califf to Leave FDA on Inauguration Day; Ostroff Next in Line to Serve As Acting Commissioner

Following tradition, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf will leave the agency on Inauguration Day, when Stephen Ostroff — deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine — will temporarily assume the role.

Califf is slated to depart from the agency on Jan. 20 at noon, an FDA spokeswoman said. His departure positions Ostroff, who previously helmed the agency from 2015 to 2016, as the next FDA official in line to serve as the acting commissioner, until the president-elect nominates a successor.

After former FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg resigned in 2015, Ostroff held the position of commissioner until President Obama nominated and Congress confirmed Califf to oversee the agency. During Ostroff’s tenure as interim commissioner, the FDA saw a record number of approvals, with 45 drugs approved, which is the most since 1996.