The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resigned on Tuesday.
Dr. Marty Makary’s exit marks the fourth notable departure of an employee of the Trump administration this year.
NBC News reported last week that Trump was in the process of firing Makary due to Trump’s disappointment in the commissioner’s work at the agency. During his time at the FDA, the department faced staff turnover, pressure in regards to abortion pills, and drug rejections. Trump was reportedly also upset that Makary did not approve flavored vapes expeditiously; a 2024 campaign promise that Trump made. The agency approved fruit-flavored vapes after mounting pressure from the president and the industry.
According to unnamed sources from the Department of Health and Human Services, that decision brought about Makary’s resignation, as he preferred to resign before a congressional hearing on Wednesday where that decision would be called into question. Makary is said to have disagreed with the vaping decision.
Mifepristone, known colloquially as the abortion pill, was another issue because officials were pushing Makary to issue more stringent regulations to the medication. Republicans took umbrage with the commissioner during his confirmation process over his vow to perform a review on mifepristone, because they are pushing to have the law that allows the drug to be prescribed and mailed through telehealth visits.
Trump chalked up the departure to Makary having a hard time in the position.
“He’s a great doctor and he was having some difficulty, but he’s going to go on, and he’s going to do well,” Trump said.
Trump also announced on Truth Social that Kyle Diamantas, top food regulator at the FDA, would fulfill the role of acting commissioner in Makary’s absence.
It should be noted that unlike Makary, Diamantas is a lawyer and does not have a medical degree.
