Trump Administration Announces Planned Nomination for FDA Commissioner and Takes Further Steps to Implement Regulatory Reform Agenda

This appointment requires Senate confirmation.  Additionally, the past couple weeks have seen several actions by the Trump Administration to advance its regulatory reform agenda.

• First, the Department of Commerce issued a request for information (RFI) to assist in its development of a plan to streamline permitting and reduce regulatory burdens for domestic manufacturing. The RFI is an opportunity for food manufacturers to voice concerns about regulations affecting the industry.

• Second, the White House has issued a memorandum with instructions for agencies to implement Executive Order (EO) 13771 (i.e., the order establishing the “one in, two out” rule) in developing their Spring Unified Agenda submissions. It requests that agencies identify the costs of significant regulatory actions for fiscal year (FY) 2018, as well as the cost savings for the regulatory actions to be rescinded to offset those costs.

• Third, President Trump has issued a new EO requiring the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop a plan for reorganizing executive branch operations, including the potential elimination of agencies, components of agencies, or agency programs. It is not clear at this stage how the EO will affect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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Authored by Joe Levitt and Leigh Barcham.