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FDA Changes Blood Donation Policy After Letter from Oversight Committee

Statement

Date: April 2, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Health and Health Care

Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Committee Member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it revised its policy of turning away blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation's blood supply:

"While shortening the deferral period for gay and bisexual men is a good first step, it is critical that FDA move toward assessing potential donors by individual risk, rather than blanket deferral. A policy that fails to do this perpetuates stigma and falls short of ensuring that every person who can safely donate blood in the United States has the opportunity to do so."

Yesterday, Chairwoman Maloney and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez sent a letter to the FDA urging it to immediately revise the policy and requested a briefing on this issue as soon as possible.


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