Leader of the F.D.A. Steps Down After a Short, Turbulent Tenure - New York Times

Leader of the F.D.A. Steps Down After a Short, Turbulent Tenure - New York Times: "September 24, 2005

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 - Lester M. Crawford, the commissioner of food and drugs, resigned abruptly on Friday, causing further upheaval at an agency that has been in turmoil for more than a year.

Dr. Crawford, who was confirmed just two months ago, on July 18, after serving as acting commissioner for more than a year, did not say why he was stepping down.

Senior officials at the Food and Drug Administration said they were stunned to learn of the resignation in an e-mail message from Dr. Crawford, who also sent a letter to President Bush stating that he was resigning 'effective immediately.'

A government official said the resignation was related to the fact that Dr. Crawford had not fully disclosed information about his finances to the Senate before his confirmation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing Dr. Crawford's privacy.
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In recent weeks, consumer advocates and scientists inside and outside the agency had said scientific decisions were being warped by politics.

On Thursday, a commentary in The New England Journal of Medicine titled 'A Sad Day for Science at the F.D.A.' said that 'recent actions of the F.D.A. leadership have made a mockery of the process of evaluating scientific evidence,' disillusioned many scientists, 'squandered the public trust and tarnished the agency's image.'"