by Steven Grossman | May 2, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
After 50 years in Washington, I have no expectation of being told the truth by government officials—elected or appointed. I like to think I have seen it all—shading the truth, burying the truth, plausibly deniable truth, and sometimes things entirely made up and...
by Steven Grossman | Apr 29, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
Several decades ago, when I was a Senate staffer, I observed that I could spend the entire Gross Domestic Product on the good ideas that people brought to us. I soon learned that lawmaking requires a substantial amount of restraint and a lot of prioritizing. Those are...
by Steven Grossman | Apr 25, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
FDA’s responsibilities have not changed since January 20th. However, its capacity to carry out its duties has been meaningfully reduced by the Administration’s downsizing. We should all be able to agree on that. It has not been clear how many people still work...
by Steven Grossman | Apr 22, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
Dr. Makary is a physician, healthcare quality and outcomes researcher, and self-styled iconoclast. When he accepted the Commissioner position in November 2024[1], I am sure he believed that Trump 2.0 would be a hospitable place to harness those personal attributes in...
by Steven Grossman | Apr 17, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
There is a document widely-circulated this morning that purports to be the OMB passback to HHS of the draft proposed FY 26 HHS President’s budget request. It includes proposed numbers for FDA funding for the coming fiscal year. It is still subject to negotiation...
by Steven Grossman | Apr 15, 2025 | Short Takes and Updates
While FDA’s responsibilities have not changed, its capacity to perform its duties has been significantly reduced. After subtracting approximately 4,500 employees[1] from the agency’s 19,000 employee workforce, it cannot possibly sustain its heavy...
