White House blocked FDA commissioner from testifying to House panel
The White House has blocked FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn from testifying to a House committee about his agency’s pandemic response, angering the panel's top Democrats who said they have pressing questions about political interference at the agency.
“The American people deserve to hear Commissioner Hahn’s response to those concerns during a public hearing and what actions he is taking to ensure that the agency’s COVID-19 decisions remain science-based,” said Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), who heads its health subcommittee.
FDA did not immediately respond to questions. Hahn briefed members of the committee during a private Aug. 31 teleconference, but there is “bipartisan interest” in holding a public hearing, the Democrats said.
A White House spokesperson confirmed that Hahn was blocked from testifying, calling the decision "part of the administration’s existing protocol to make sure health officials can keep their time and energy focused on responding to the coronavirus." The spokesperson noted Hahn has testified to Congress four times in the past six months, including before Pallone's committee in June.
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