President Trump has signed off on a plan to fire Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, though insiders say the plan is not final and could change, according to several media reports.
News of the planned ax comes from inside sources speaking out The Wall Street Journalthis was later confirmed by news Bloomberg, The Washington Postand Politics. The Post reports that the administration has not decided who will take over as director after Makary’s departure.
The planned exit comes after a tumultuous year for Makary, in which the FDA was embroiled in turmoil and controversy over DOGE cuts. personnel dramavaccine approvals, gene therapy decisions, abortion pill control and vape regulation.
“Journal” reported on this at the beginning of the week Trump scolded Makar for not moving fast enough to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products over the weekend. Trump’s advisers have reportedly characterized Makary as a problem for the administration, saying he is blocking the president’s campaign promise to “save vaping.”
In particular, Makaryn was said to have shied away from endorsing Los Angeles maker Glas’ menthol, mango and blueberry vape flavors, which could entice young people to take up smoking. After pressure from Trump The FDA approved vapes on Tuesday.
According to the Journal, senior administration officials saw McCarney struggling to run the FDA while at odds with other health officials. They also noted complaints from the pharmaceutical industry.
If Makary is removed, it will add to a growing list of vacancies at the patient health agencies overseen by anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. Top executives from the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health have left in droves amid the Trump administration. The CDC is without a director and there is no surgeon general.
