The top lawyer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has resigned.
“Hilary K. Perkins has resigned from her position as Chief Counsel of FDA, effectively immediately,” the FDA stated.
Hilary K. Perkins has resigned from her position as Chief Counsel of FDA, effectively immediately.
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) March 13, 2025
Fox News reports:
Perkins — a former assistant director under Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) in the consumer protection agency — was selected on Tuesday by acting general Sean Keveney in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a “reorganization” effort by the department, according to an HHS news release.
She previously defended abortion pill access in a high-profile case under Biden’s DOJ, and HHS officials were reportedly unhappy with the decision to appoint Perkins but were overruled by White House officials, according to a report from Axios this week.
“We’ve been able to recruit higher quality personnel to HHS than in any time in its history,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said in a statement Tuesday at the announcement of Perkins’ assignment. “These are individuals who will return the agency to gold-standard science, evidence-based medicine, and recalibrate its trajectory toward public health rather than industry profiteering.”
BREAKING: Lawyer Who Defended Abortion Pills Under Biden Resigns as FDA Chief Counsel https://t.co/wBBtN4YRC1 pic.twitter.com/ZCqnTWCel3
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) March 13, 2025
According to The Hill, Martin Makary, President Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner, chose Perkins for the job.
FDA top lawyer resigns days after starting job https://t.co/mX8QLIbNcX
— The Hill (@thehill) March 13, 2025
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) criticized Makary’s decision.
“I can’t understand why Marty Makary would want someone who used the government to IMPOSE vaccines on millions of Americans and served as a Biden abortion lawyer to be his chief counsel. It calls into question his judgment,” Hawley said.
“These positions are – obviously – totally out of line with President Trump,” he added.
These positions are – obviously – totally out of line with President Trump
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 13, 2025
From The Hill:
The Missouri senator later applauded Perkins’s withdrawal from the role, while Makary awaits confirmation from the Senate.
Although the president promised not to restrict mifepristone on a federal level, prescriptions remain illegal in multiple Republican states, including Hawley’s.
Both Makary and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared plans to have the FDA review mifepristone data after usage spiked following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
