In an address to the Alliance for Health Policy on January 6th, Dr. Stephen Hahn, outgoing Director of the FDA outlined achievements of his agency following a one year tenure in 2020.  These included:-

• The Smarter Food Safety Blueprint that will create greater traceability.
• 2020 Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan in response to recurring episodes of infection attributed to produce contaminated with irrigation water.
• Approval of 28 drugs to prevent or treat livestock and companion animal diseases.
• Approval of various therapeutic agents and emergency use authorization for two COVID vaccines.

Despite the fact that Dr. Hahn emphasized the science-based decision-making process for the FDA, the reputation of the Agency has been degraded by perceptions of political interference. This is evidenced by  emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine and antibody therapy to treat COVID, both unproven “quick-fix” interventions.