The Food and Drug Administration has been put under pressure by the Congress to expand overseas inspections. As a response, the FDA said it needed a $275 million supplementary fund to provide the safety of foods, drugs and medical devices, as the Wall Street Journal informs.

The letter was sent by the Food and Drug Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach and was addressed to Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania. It contains an ample spending plan for things as opening new foreign offices, increasing inspections and constructing new databases to track drug hazards.

Dr. von Eschenbach has surprised everybody with his undertaking, as it is not usual that presidential appointees confront so vehemently the president’s own spending plans.

“In 30 years at the agency, I never saw anything like this happen before,” said William Hubbard, a former deputy F.D.A. commissioner, as the New York Times quotes.

The FDA's foreign inspections have begun intense investigations since the contamination of heparin was noted. Heparin is a widely used blood thinner, which contains contaminated ingredients brought from China. The tainted drug has been linked to 81 deaths.

In a hearing that took place April 29, FDA director Janet Woodcock was forced by House Democrats to give precise information about what resources the agency needed. She suggested $225 million.

Senator Specter wrote to Dr. von Eschenbach on May 1 asking for details on what the FDA needed to help ensure safety of the drug and food industries. Dr. von Eschenbach said $125 million would be for food protection; $100 million for safer drugs, devices and biologics; and $50 million would go toward updating the FDA's science and work force. The agency could use $20 million to increase the activity overseas, the main purpose being to open two offices abroad.