FDA Spokesperson Removed From Position After 2 Weeks

The Food and Drug Administration’s top spokesperson has been removed from the post after serving for just about two weeks, Politico reports.

According to an email FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn sent to senior leaders on Friday, which was obtained by Politico, he announced he was removing Emily Miller, an appointee of President Donald Trump, from the job.

"Effectively immediately, Emily Miller will no longer serve the FDA as the assistant commissioner for media affairs and will no longer be the official spokesperson for the agency," Hahn wrote. "I will appoint someone to an acting role in that position in the interim."

Her tenure involved infighting and controversy over the FDA’s recent emergency use authorization of convalescent plasma as a COVID-19 treatment, according to Politico.

The FDA faced criticism over its decision to hire Miller. She is a former reporter for One America News Network and doesn’t have any science or medical background. Typically, the agency’s top communications post is held by a career civil servant, which is how it was advertised in April, according to Politico.

Miller was brought on board as a political appointee, which raised concerns that the FDA wouldn't be able to stave off political pressure from the White House.

She was involved with the agency's roll out of the EUA of convalescent plasma.

Miller defended Hahn’s misstatements that the treatment “has shown to be beneficial for 35% of patients.” Hahn has since apologized for overstating the benefits of the treatment.

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