FDA Staffers Express Ongoing Concern of Widespread Corruption to Present Obama

Earlier this month, President Obama received from nine unidentified staffers at the FDA urging the president to provide all necessary support for an investigation into ongoing corruption, serious wrongdoing, and misdeeds of officials who remain in power at the Agency and create a culture of wrongdoing and cover-up. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) released a copy of a letter dated April 2, 2009, which stated, "...many other FDA managers have failed to protect the American public, who have violated laws, rules, regulations, who have suppressed or altered scientific evidence or technological findings and conclusions, who have abused their power and authority, and who have engaged in illegal retaliation against those who speak out, have not been held accountable and remain in place." The letter went on to say that newly-appointed Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and soon-to-be confirmed acting Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg should bring the necessary changes to the FDA that will bring integrity and accountability back to the Agency, but that "sweeping measures are still needed to end the systemic corruption and wrongdoing that permeates all levels of the FDA and plagued the Agency for too long." The staffers called for "immediate and decisive disciplinary action" and suggested "some wrongdoing may be beyond the scope of FDA's jurisdiction and may need referral to the U.S. Attorney General."

Click here to view the entire 4/2/09 letter