Are they "leading" because they lead in expertise or because they control the reigns of regulation? I'm not sure I would describe the FDA as optimistically as

Are they "leading" because they lead in expertise or because they control the reigns of regulation? I'm not sure I would describe the FDA as optimistically as you do - they are a collection of federal employees, leaning heavily on private industry expertise to navigate the demands of politicians, the expectations of the public, and needs of businesses.