What’s going on with the FDA chief search? 

President Biden has yet to nominate a permanent head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at a time when the government is navigating a surge in COVID-19 cases from the delta variant.

​​It’s unclear why the post remains vacant more than six months into Biden’s presidency, but some experts suggest politics may be getting in the way.

Some Democratic senators are pushing back on the prospects of acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock being named to the permanent role, but health care experts are warning that the administration needs to fill the position immediately.

The tensions come as the FDA is coming under increasing pressure to grant full approval for the COVID-19 vaccines to boost confidence in the shots and potentially the country’s vaccination rate, with just half of the population now fully vaccinated.

The White House has been adamant that it is taking its time so that Biden can nominate someone with the right expertise for the job.