George Tidmarsh resigned as director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research after being placed on administrative leave amid a Department of Health and Human Services probe into alleged personal misconduct. The departure follows complaints and internal reviews that flagged potential abuses of regulatory authority. The agency now faces renewed leadership instability at its principal drug-review office just months after previous senior departures. Industry sources note the exit complicates ongoing high-stakes reviews and adds uncertainty to regulatory timelines at a time when several high-profile applications are pending. The story draws on statements from HHS and contemporaneous news reports that describe internal investigations and legal filings tied to the episode. Companies with near-term submissions or accelerated pathways should expect additional scrutiny and potential delays while CDER restores leadership continuity.