Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Lester Crawford, has resigned, after repeated claims that he allowed his agency to "play politics" with drug approvals, and oversaw some very high profile drug safety recalls.

The White House quickly named Andrew von Eschenbach, the director of the National Cancer Institute, as acting FDA commissioner.

Only two months after his confirmation, Dr. Crawford issued a memo saying, "I have today resigned my position as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration... After three and a half years as deputy commissioner, acting commissioner and, finally, as commissioner, it is time at the age of 67, to step aside."

Crawford was confirmed in July after a long Senate debate, having been in office as deputy commissioner since early 2004.

During his time in office, the FDA was accused of allowing drugs, like the recalled Vioxx and Bextra, to remain on the market, even though there was mounting evidence that they carried "serious side effects."

Even further, some questioned how some drugs, such as Accutane, were even allowed on the market in the first place.

After news of the resignation became public, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IO), says he saw the move as an "opportunity for change."

Sen. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid spending, says, "In recent years, the FDA has demonstrated a too-cozy relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and an attitude of shielding rather than disclosing information... The opportunity to name a new commissioner is a chance to take the agency in a necessary new direction."