FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Abruptly Resigns

The Washington Post reports:

Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who used his post to tackle difficult public health issues from youth vaping to opioid addiction – surprising early skeptics worried about his drug industry ties – resigned Tuesday, effective in about a month, according to an administration official.

Gottlieb, who has been commuting weekly to Washington from his home in Connecticut, wants to spend more time with his family, the official said. The 46-year-old physician, millionaire venture capitalist and cancer survivor known for a self-assured, sometimes brash, manner lives in Westport, with his wife and three daughters.

While Gottlieb had some policy disagreements with the White House, he is well respected, two officials said. The move came as a surprise to some FDA officials, because he has recently hired senior staff and was aggressively pushing a host of new initiatives.

The FDA is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.