The Food and Drug Administration is pushing back on an attempt by Congress to give the Department of Defense the power to approve new drugs and medical devices used on the battlefield.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Tuesday that he is seeking an alternative to proposed language in the National Defense Authorization Act, which is being negotiated by House and Senate conference members this week. The alternative seeks to head off an agency brawl over the authority for approving new drugs used by service members.

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