BREAKING NEWS ~ FDA commissioner resigns News
BREAKING NEWS ~ FDA commissioner resigns

[JURIST] AP is reporting that Lester Crawford [official profile], commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration [official website], has resigned.

4:08 PM ET – Crawford's resignation comes just two months after his Senate confirmation as FDA chief [JURIST report]. During the confirmation process, Crawford was criticized for dragging his feet while serving as the FDA's acting commissioner on making a determination about the sale of an emergency contraceptive, Plan B [FDA backgrounder]. Last month, a high-ranking FDA official resigned in protest [JURIST report] over the agency's continued delay in deciding whether to approve the contraceptive pills for over-the-counter-sale. A memo circulated by Crawford to his staff Friday cited his age as the reason for his retirement. AP has more.