FDA Removes Top Spokesperson After Blood Plasma Blunder

The Food and Drug Administration has removed a top communications official at the agency in the wake of misleading claims the agency made about a treatment for COVID-19.

Emily Miller was central in defending the FDA commissioner, Dr. Stephen Hahn, this week after he falsely said that blood plasma could lower the death rate from COVID-19 by more than a third. Hahn later apologized on Twitter. He remains on the job.

A spokesperson for the department of Health and Human Services, the parent agency of the FDA, did not deny that Miller's removal had taken place, saying only that the department had "no comment on personnel" in a statement to NPR. It is not known if she will remain with the agency.

The ouster was first reported by The New York Times Friday.

Miller had been at the FDA only 11 days. Her appointment was viewed in public health circles as further politicization of the agency at a crucial time in the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller's past writings and experience at several conservative media organizations were seen as putting the agency's credibility on the line as public skepticism about vaccines and treatments is growing.