The argument for an independent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken on renewed interest following President Trump’s political pressure on the agency to rapidly clear COVID-19 products, most notably a vaccine. But while the idea of a more independent agency enjoys broad stakeholder support, it is far from universal, and practical considerations suggest that the FDA will always face a fair degree of oversight by elected officials.
Still, it remains the hope of many – especially former commissioners who have sat in the political hotseat – that...
