President Joe Biden’s nominee to become director of the National Institutes of Health has agreed to a number of major ethics commitments pushed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), including a pledge not to work for any major pharmaceutical companies for at least four years after leaving the government sector.
Biden nominated Monica Bertagnolli for the position in mid-May, seeking to fill the top position after being vacant for nearly a year. However, her confirmation has been held up in the Senate due to concerns from Warren that the government position would be used to promote corporate interests.
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Bertagnolli agreed to comply with a number of demands made by the Massachusetts Democrat, including a pledge to recuse herself from “particular matters” that involve companies she has previously worked with in other positions. That recusal period will last for four years, an extension of the standard two-year period, according to a letter Bertagnolli sent to Warren earlier this month.
“I share your commitment to restoring public trust in government and, if confirmed, it will be a priority of mine as NIH Director,” Bertagnolli wrote. “I welcome the chance to discuss these or any other issues further at your convenience.”
The slate of concessions marks the strongest ethics standards ever secured for an NIH director nominee, according to Warren’s office.
The commitments could also pave the way for the Senate to vote on Bertagnolli’s nomination when they return from recess next month, with Warren’s office telling Politico the Massachusetts Democrat now plans to vote in support of her confirmation. However, Bertagnolli still faces a similar standoff with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has vowed to block a confirmation vote until the Biden administration takes stronger actions to slash drug prices.
“I will oppose all nominations until we have a very clear strategy on the part of the government … as to how we’re going to lower the outrageously high cost of prescription drugs,” Sanders told the Washington Post earlier this year.
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Sanders’s support would be necessary for Democrats to confirm her nomination.
If confirmed, Bertagnolli would become the second woman to lead the NIH. She previously served as the first female director of the National Cancer Institute.
