
Janet Woodcock
Acting FDA Commissioner
Janet Woodcock is a career civil servant of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who has served in various leadership roles at the FDA under both Democratic and Republican administrations since 1986. Woodcock has served as Acting FDA Commissioner since January 2021 and is also reportedly under consideration to fill the FDA Commissioner role permanently. In 2003, Woodcock expressed harmful and false claims about access to Plan B during the review process of making Plan B more readily available. In recent years, Woodcock expressed support for evidence-based decisions regarding the approval of Plan B as an over-the-counter product and the approval of a protocol to expand the use of medication abortion. In recent months, Woodcock received criticism for her lack of oversight of the opioid crisis while serving as chief of the FDA’s Drug Division. In April 2021, under Woodcock’s direction, the FDA lifted Trump administration bans on dispensing abortion pills via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Equity Forward has labeled Woodcock as green with caution due to previous harmful claims she made around reproductive health care access but acknowledges Woodcock has since made progress.
Woodcock Was Reported As Acting Commissioner For The Food And Drug Administration On January 14, 2021


Previous Employment Of Note


Woodcock Expressed A Commitment To Using Evidence-Based Science


Woodcock Was Involved In Controversy Surrounding The FDA’s Initial Review Of Changing Plan B To Over-The-Counter Status In 2003


Then-FDA Deputy Commissioner Woodcock Expressed Inaccurate, Harmful Claims During The Review Process Of The Application For Plan B’s Over-The-Counter Status


In Recent Years, Woodcock Supported Evidence-Based Decisions During The FDA’s Approval Processes Of Over-The-Counter Sales Of Plan B In 2013 And Medication Abortion Protocols In 2016


Woodcock Received Criticism For The Mishandling Of The Opioid Crisis While Serving As Chief Of The FDA’s Drug Division


Under Woodcock’s Direction, The FDA Followed Evidence-Based Science And Removed Trump-Era Restrictions On Dispensing Abortion Pills During The COVID-19 Pandemic

