FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Faces Imminent Dismissal
Multiple news outlets report that President Donald Trump is preparing to fire Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, following a tenure marked by internal and external criticism from the White House, pharmaceutical industry groups, and anti-abortion activists.
"The president himself grew quite frustrated that he felt Marty Makary was slow-walking his agenda on flavored vapes."
— Liz Essley Whyte, The Wall Street Journal
Core Frustrations Behind the Planned Ouster
According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal’s Liz Essley Whyte, a key frustration for President Trump was the pace of FDA action on flavored vapes. Makary was perceived as slow-walking the President’s agenda, and the FDA recently approved blueberry- and mango-flavored vapes for the first time in years.
Beyond vaping policy, White House officials reportedly began to view Makary as a "rogue agent" who relied on a small inner circle and had repeated conflicts with both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House.
Failed Attempts at Internal Control
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously considered making Makary a figurehead and installing a separate day-to-day manager, but that plan was ultimately dropped.
Industry and Activist Complaints
- Pharmaceutical companies, particularly smaller biotechs, complained about "regulatory U-turns" — instances where encouraging signals from the FDA were later reversed, costing them significant investment.
- Anti-abortion groups criticized Makary for not restricting access to mifepristone, a medication used for abortions, and for approving a generic version of the drug. Makary stated he was legally required to approve it.
Whyte further reported that Makary "made explicit promises to produce this review" on mifepristone safety "in his early days as FDA commissioner. But he never did."
Background on Makary's Tenure
Marty Makary was installed as FDA commissioner in 2024 and is known as a "Make America Healthy Again" advocate. His tenure has been described as tumultuous, with widespread criticism over administrative dysfunction.
The President has reportedly signed off on a plan to fire Makary, but could still change his mind. White House officials must now identify an acting commissioner and then nominate a permanent replacement — alongside pending nominations for CDC and surgeon general.