Statement on FDA and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Confirmations

Statement from Daniela Ochoa Diaz, Senior Director of Policy at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, on recent administration confirmations:  

“In the past two weeks, we have seen the confirmation of two people who are deeply unqualified to head of the agencies they have been tasked with supervising and administrating. Dr. Marty Makary as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Dr. Mehmet Oz as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will be leading public health initiatives, protections through federal programs, and responsible for enforcement of healthcare policies for millions of Americans.  

“These confirmations are concerning. Throughout his hearing, Dr. Makary, among other troubling statements, was not willing to say that he accepted the science behind the abortion pill, Mifepristone; and Dr. Oz has a long history of anti-abortion rhetoric stating that reproductive decisions should involve local political leaders, not supporting federal abortion protections, and connections with extremist pro-life organizations. 

“We deserve to have leaders who understand the scientific process behind the making and approval of medications; who understand the impacts of insurance drug coverage; and who will prioritize the improvement of our healthcare system and access, not people who pick and choose when to believe in science-backed research or spread misinformation. We need leaders who want to keep politicians out of our health care decisions and protect our access to care. These confirmations threaten our access to reproductive health care and equitable care. No one should have to be concerned with their access to healthcare being restricted because of political appointments.”