Originally Published MX September/October 2005

BUSINESS NEWS

Lester M. Crawford has been confirmed as FDA commisssioner.

In July, following a contentious hearing process, the U.S. Senate finally confirmed Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, as permanent FDA commissioner. President Bush nominated Crawford to the top spot at the agency in March, but the confirmation was delayed for five months by a bipartisan group of congressional critics who questioned Crawford's leadership on a number of issues, including drug safety and approval, policy enforcement, agency staffing, and fiscal management.