Dr. Marty Makary has resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration after a turbulent 13-month run that placed him at the center of political and regulatory battles inside the Trump administration. Makary, a longtime surgeon and professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, first gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as a vocal critic of certain public health restrictions.
The administration is expected to install Kyle Diamantas, formerly the agency’s top food policy official, as acting commissioner while a permanent replacement is considered. The news of Makary’s resignation and Diamantas taking over as acting commissioner was first reported by Politico.
President Trump confirmed Makary’s departure Tuesday, describing him as “a great doctor” who “was having some difficulty,” while adding that “he’s going to go on and do well.” Trump did not clarify whether Makary resigned voluntarily or was pushed out.
According to multiple reports, frustrations had been building within the White House for months, particularly over delays tied to the approval of fruit-flavored vaping products. Trump had publicly supported expanding access to flavored e-cigarettes during the 2024 campaign, and industry leaders reportedly complained that the FDA was moving too slowly. Last week, the agency finally approved several fruit-flavored vape products for adults after sustained pressure from both the administration and vaping companies.
Makary also faced criticism from conservative lawmakers over the FDA’s review of mifepristone, the abortion pill that has remained a flashpoint in national political debates. Republicans had urged the agency to reconsider Biden-era rules allowing the medication to be prescribed through telehealth and delivered by mail. Although the Supreme Court recently allowed nationwide access to continue temporarily, critics accused the FDA of delaying its internal review.
Beyond abortion and vaping policy, Makary’s tenure was marked by broader tensions surrounding vaccine oversight and scientific independence at the agency. Former FDA officials and public health experts raised concerns over delays involving vaccine-related research and other regulatory decisions that appeared influenced by politics rather than established scientific processes.
Makary’s exit adds to a growing list of major departures from Trump’s administration this year, following the exits of Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi and Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
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