The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January issued an 'import alert' preventing all genetically modified (GM) salmon from entering the US. The temporary hold is being implemented to comply with the fiscal year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act that directs the FDA not to allow food containing GM salmon into interstate commerce of GM foods until labeling guidelines are finalized. In practical terms, this reverses the approval last November for commercial sale of the fast-growing fish, developed by AquaBounty Technologies of Maynard, Massachusetts (Nat. Biotechnol. 34, 7–9, 2016). Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is taking credit for this eleventh-hour reversal of the approval of the salmon, which had languished at FDA since 1995. “I adamantly oppose the FDA's misguided decision to allow GM salmon to be placed in our kitchens and on our tables, and I firmly believe that mandatory labeling guidelines must be put in place as soon as possible so consumers know what it is they are purchasing,” she said. Senator Murkowski used several kinds of political leverage to block the product from reaching market. For one, she insisted on putting a mandatory labeling provision in the 'must-pass' omnibus appropriations bill, which, if blocked, would have shut down the federal government. Additionally, she put a block on Robert Califf, whose appointment as FDA Commissioner depends on Senate confirmation (see p. 220).