In a significant development within the Trump administration, reports indicate that President Trump has approved a plan to dismiss Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary. This information comes from various insiders and has been corroborated by major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and Politico. However, it’s important to note that the plan is not yet finalized and could undergo changes.
The anticipated dismissal follows a notably challenging year for Makary, marked by considerable turmoil and controversy surrounding a range of issues including DOGE cuts, personnel conflicts, vaccine approvals, gene therapy decisions, oversight of abortion pills, and regulations concerning vaping products. A particularly pointed criticism was issued when Trump reportedly confronted Makary for not expediting the approval of flavored vapes and nicotine products, in what has been described by advisors as a failure to uphold the president’s commitment to “save vaping.”
The friction between the administration and Makary intensified, especially regarding his hesitations in approving certain vape flavors from Los Angeles-based manufacturer Glas. Makary’s concern was rooted in the potential of these flavors—menthol, mango, and blueberry—to attract youth to vaping. Nevertheless, following pressure from the White House, the FDA greenlit the flavored vapes just days after the confrontation.
Internal assessments from top officials have characterized Makary as struggling to effectively manage the FDA, with reports of his contentious interactions with other health authorities. Additionally, there have been persistent complaints from the pharmaceutical sector regarding his leadership.
Should Makary be removed from his position, it would compound the existing vacancies within various health agencies overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his anti-vaccine stance. The landscape of leadership at key institutions such as the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has seen a significant exodus of high-level officials during the Trump administration. Currently, the CDC is lacking a director, and the position of surgeon general remains unfilled, raising questions about the continuity and oversight of public health initiatives during this tumultuous period.
