The Senate just confirmed Trump's pick to lead the FDA — here's what that could mean for the agency

pulse

May 9, 2017 10:04 PM

Dr. Scott Gottlieb has been confirmed as FDA commissioner.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb testifies before a Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 5, 2017.

The Senate just confirmed Dr. Scott Gottlieb as the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Gottlieb is a healthcare investor, a physician, and well known in the drug industry. He previously served as former deputy commissioner of the FDA during George W. Bush's presidency.

Trump has said that he wants to deregulate the drug industry, which the FDA regulates, and has called the drug-approval process "slow and burdensome."

"We're going to be cutting regulations at a level that nobody's ever seen before," Trump said in a meeting with drug company executives on January 31. He estimated up to 80% of regulations would be slashed.

Over the years and at his Senate hearing, Gottlieb has been vocal about his thoughts on the FDA. Here's what his nomination could mean for the future of the agency.

hard time getting approved
2014 opinion piece
told Stat News
2010 opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal

What the FDA does

The FDA is responsible for regulating food and drugs. It's also responsible for regulating medical devices, blood donations, veterinary products, cosmetics, and tobacco. Trump's comments have left the drug industry concerned about what deregulation could mean for the drug-approval process.

It was officially founded in 1906, when the Food and Drugs Act was signed into law, prohibiting misbranded food, drinks, and drugs from interstate commerce. This cracked down on misleading claims that treatments could "cure" patients.

Here are some examples of the FDA at work: