Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb resigned Tuesday, The Washington Post reports. Gottlieb decided to step down because he wants to spend more time with his family, an administration official told the newspaper. His resignation—which was reportedly not sought by the White House—is effective in about a month. Gottlieb’s decision reportedly took those at the FDA by surprise, as his plan to restrict the sales of flavored e-cigarettes is currently being reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and he recently hired new senior staff. “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to help lead this wonderful agency, for the support of my colleagues, for the public health goals we advanced together, and the strong support of [HHS Sec. Alex Azar] and [President] Trump,” he wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “This has been a wonderful journey and parting is very hard.”
Gottlieb was formerly a top FDA official in the George W. Bush administration, and has reportedly worked as a “venture capitalist and consultant to drug and health care companies.” He lives in Westport, Conn., with his three young daughters and wife.