Additional Steps for Maintaining Public Trust in the FDA (Reply)

In response to a letter on strategies to improve trust in the FDA, the authors note that, despite calls for greater transparency, the FDA broadly applies the Trade Secrets Act, limiting the information it releases publicly. The “revolving door” of appointees who leave government service for industry also weakens efforts to reduce industry interference in the agency. Though legislation has been proposed to limit lobbying and improve disclosure by former federal employees, these solutions have not yet become law.