But a White House spokesperson said that Biden was not planning to change its status. Manchin has the utmost respect for Dr. Gupta and has expressed support for his nomination to the White House,” said Sam Runyon, the senator’s spokesperson. White House officials cautioned that a final decision had not been made on the position, with several potential candidates in the mix, even as overdoses are at record levels. “The president is basically the founding father of ONDCP.”In 1989, Biden criticized President George H.W. “The drug director can only be effective if he or she has a seat in the Cabinet,” Biden said then.

Source: Washington Post March 17, 2021 21:00 UTC