USDA, FDA Nominations Near Senate Votes

The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved Sonny Perdue’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with Perdue receiving support from all members of the committee except Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-­N.Y.), along with an abstention from Sonny Perdue’s cousin, David Perdue (R-­Ga.). The full Senate vote has not yet been scheduled. See Politico, March 30, 2017.

After criticism over potential conflicts of interest, nominee for commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Scott Gottlieb has promised to recuse himself for one year from agency decisions involving more than a dozen companies. Gottlieb faces a Senate confirmation hearing on April 5, 2017. See The New York Times, March 29, 2017.

Issue 629