January 31, 2022

In Response to Senator Warren, FDA Commissioner Nominee Dr. Robert Califf Makes Strongest Ethics Commitments of Any Senior Biden Administration Official

Letter with Dr. Califf’s Ethics Commitments (PDF)


Washington, D.C. - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has secured significant ethics commitments from FDA Commissioner nominee Dr. Robert M. Califf. 


In a letter to Senator Warren, Dr. Califf committed to recuse himself from matters involving his former employers and clients for four years, two years longer than what is required in the Biden-Harris administration’s Ethics Pledge. Dr. Califf indicated he did not intend to seek a waiver from his recusals. He also agreed not to seek employment with or compensation from, including as a result of board service, any pharmaceutical or medical device company that he interacts with during his tenure as FDA Commissioner and for four years after completing his government service. In making these commitments, Dr. Califf has demonstrated a strong commitment to avoiding conflicts of interest and closing the revolving door between FDA and the industries it regulates.


Senator Warren is a leader in the effort to impose strict ethics standards on senior government officials. Her Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act is the most ambitious anti-corruption legislation since Watergate. She has also worked to secure commitments from nominees, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other Department of Defense nominees, on ethics standards.  


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