White House reaffirms confidence in FDA amid ongoing baby formula shortage

During Thursday's White House press conference, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre assured the media that President Joe Biden fully backs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its leadership amidst the ongoing baby formula supply crisis.

During the press conference, Philip Wegmann of RealClearPolitics asked for an update on the shortage, which has resulted stores having sparse stock of formula, if any at all.

"It's lasted months, and we’re not just talking about baby formula, either. There are infants, children, and adults with different metabolic disorders who are risking permanent irreversible damage the longer they go without special formulas," Wegmann said.

"I’m wondering: does the President have confidence in the FDA’s ability to deal with situations like this? And as he’s been monitoring the situation, does he still have confidence in his FDA director?" he asked.

Jean-Pierre maintained that the Biden administration has confidence in the FDA and is willing to fully back whatever they need to resolve the shortage.

"Yes. Yes, and yes," she responded.

"So the FDA has an important mission, right? It’s to make sure that the infant formula on the shelf isn’t just available, but also that it’s safe," Jean-Pierre continued. "And as a parent, I understand the frustration, I understand the fear of not knowing if you have safe and healthy food, baby formula in this case, for your kids. Unlike Republicans in Congress and the previous administration, the President believes the FDA, and particularly its food division, needs to be well-resourced to do its critical work and do regular annual inspection."

She continued by reiterating the White House’s earlier position about how the Abbott Nutrition facility in Sturgis, Michigan was a catalyst:

"The current shortage exists because Abbott closed, as you know, a facility in Michigan due to safety concerns from the FDA. A facility that was a major producer of specialty formula as you’re asking me about. Right? And so the FDA has an obligation to protect the American people, and that’s what Dr. Califf is going to be doing at the helm."

Mothers like Fox News columnist Bethany Mandel on Thursday shared their personal observations about baby formula on store shelves.

Within the past week, both Fox News and CNN presented a unified front of anger from their show’s hosts about how the Biden administration let the baby formula shortage happen in the first place.

As for what the White House and Congress have done since the problem arose, President Biden signed a bill that loosened the pre-existing production restrictions for baby formula and began airlifting supplies in from Europe.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told Congress on Thursday that the baby formula shortage will last until July, in testimony for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.