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| John Wagner |
John “Wolf” Wagner, who headed external affairs at the Food and Drug Administration, is out as aftershocks continue from commissioner’s Stephen Hahn misstatements about the benefits of the blood plasma to treat COVID-19, which undermined the reputation of the agency.
President Trump in June appointed Wagner, who was principal deputy assistant at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, to the post.
Wagner had served as a consultant at 2016 Republican National Conventions, developing messaging talking points and media engagements.
Heidi Rebello, a 14-year FDA veteran and the agency’s acting deputy chief of staff, has stepped into the position on an acting basis, responsible all FDA public communications.
Wagner’s departure follows the Aug. 28 exit of FDA chief spokesperson Emily Miller, who lasted 11 days on the job.
Jeffrey Nesbit, who served as communications director for former vice president Dan Quayle, is named assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, will exit at the end of the month. Ben LaBolt, a longtime Biden adviser, will take the CD post.
Cathy Cochran, senior VP in Teneo’s Washington office, has rejoined the US Dept of Agriculture as director in its communications office.
Mexico is working with the DC-based Global Action on Gun Violence to push for “impactful gun violence prevention strategies” in the US.
Douglas Farrar, who was VP-communications and strategy at the Carnegie Center for International Peace, has joined the Federal Trade Commission as PA director.
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