Abortion politics could define Califf’s tenure

Rob Califf’s tenure as FDA commissioner could be defined by abortion politics, a fate that would threaten to poison his relationship with Republican members of Congress and limit FDA’s ability to pursue other priorities.

Controversy over the regulation of women’s reproductive health drugs started building while Califf’s nomination was pending and there is no sign of it abating. Republican senators first pressed him for a commitment to maintain restrictions on access to the abortion drug Mifeprex mifepristone, and then demanded that he commit to reinstate those restrictions when FDA lifted them before the confirmation vote. ...