FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Reportedly Will Step Down

By Scott Neuman / NPR

Published February 5, 2015 at 2:39 AM PST

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg in a photo taken last May. Hamburg, who has been in the top FDA job for nearly six years, will reportedly step down.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg — who has been at the center of controversial decisions such as relaxing age restrictions on the Plan B contraceptive — has reportedly decided to step down after six years in the job.

Reuters quotes a source briefed on the matter as saying that the White House will announce Hamburg's decision on Friday to quit the Food and Drug Administration. The Wall Street Journal is also reporting the impending resignation, citing unnamed government officials.

Hamburg, 59, was approved by the Senate in 2009 and is among the longest-serving FDA commissioners the modern era.

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According to Reuters, the White House is expected to make the announcement on Friday, but FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Yao declined to comment.

The WSJ says that no replacement has been selected, but that the FDA's chief scientist, Dr. Stephen Ostroff, would temporarily take the reins. The Journal, notes that Dr. Robert Cahill, who was recently selected by Hamburg to become the agency's deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco, is regarded as her likely successor for the top job.