Trump Bets on Washington Outsider to Lead FDA Amid Political Battles

The Trump Administration has placed a series of healthcare issues at the center of the 2020 Presidential campaign: addressing the ban on vaping products, pharmaceutical pricing legislation and the opioid epidemic. Stephen Hahn, a longtime cancer researcher and the Trump's Administration's Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) head nominee, will play a significant role in addressing a series of controversial health care issues.

Although the political stakes are high for the Trump Administration, polls show that healthcare legislation is a top issue for swing voters. "The FDA commissioner job can be one political hornet’s nest after another," said Public Policy and Regulation Partner Michael Werner. The FDA has traditionally sought leaders with extensive government experience to approach controversial legislation and the delicate political relationships that come with it.

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