U.S. FDA chief refutes Trump's 'deep state' claim
The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says his agency does not harbor "deep state" elements.
In an interview with Reuters on Monday, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn rejected criticism from President Donald Trump that his staff were trying to delay a coronavirus vaccine.
Over the weekend, Trump claimed, without evidence, quote, "The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd." The tweet tagged commissioner Hahn.
Dr. Hahn said he was focused solely on the interests of the American people during the coronavirus pandemic, telling Reuters, "I have not seen anything that I would consider to be 'deep state' at the FDA."
Trump's use of the term "deep state" appears to refer to long-serving government employees he claims are working to sabotage his agenda.
Dr. Hahn said he had a solid relationship with Trump, who is seeking reelection amid a pandemic that has killed more than 177,000 Americans, according to a Reuters tally.
Trump has talked up the possibility of a coronavirus vaccine coming soon and the White House is eager to have positive news on the development of one before the election.
The director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who will help decide the fate of coronavirus vaccine candidates, has said he would resign if the Trump administration approved a vaccine before it was shown to be safe and effective.
Dr. Hahn told Reuters, "What I can tell you is that I will not participate in a decision at FDA that's made upon anything other than data and science. That I can assure you."
In a separate interview with Reuters, the top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned against the government issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for a vaccine candidate before it had completed necessary trials.
