The Department of Health and Human Services is preparing to expand the leadership structure at the Food and Drug Administration by creating two new deputy commissioner positions. According to sources familiar with the plan, these roles will focus specifically on drugs and technology, with the latter tasked with managing the complex intersection of healthcare and artificial intelligence. While official announcements have not yet been made, some within the Trump administration see these appointments as a strategic move to increase executive influence over the regulatory body.

For the newly proposed technology role, Jared Seehafer has emerged as the leading candidate. A veteran of the medical device industry and co-founder of a life sciences compliance software company, Seehafer currently serves as a senior advisor to the FDA. If appointed, he would likely oversee both the agency’s internal adoption of generative AI tools and the rigorous external review process for AI-enabled medical products. This comes at a critical time as the FDA continues to seek public input on how to regulate emerging generative AI technologies in medicine.

These structural changes arrive during a period of significant instability for the agency. The FDA has recently weathered a storm of criticism regarding its response to foodborne illness outbreaks and several contentious decisions involving biotechnology firms. From reversing course on clinical trial requirements for Huntington’s disease treatments to granting accelerated approval for melanoma drugs after previous rejections, the regulator has found itself under intense scrutiny from both industry leaders and public health advocates.

The organizational shift also coincides with ongoing leadership transitions at the top. Both new deputies would report to Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner, who is currently awaiting Senate confirmation. As the agency navigates budget constraints and staffing shortages, these new roles may represent an attempt to modernize oversight while stabilizing an organization that has struggled through recent administrative turnovers and high-profile regulatory battles.