President Trump has approved a plan to fire Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, although insiders warn that the plan is not final and could change, according to multiple media reports.
News of the planned layoff comes from internal sources who spoke with The Wall Street Journalwhich was later confirmed by reports from Bloomberg, Washington Postand political. The Post reported that the administration has not decided who will serve as interim director following Makary’s departure.
The planned departure comes after a tumultuous year for Makary, which saw the FDA mired in turmoil and controversy over DOGE cuts. personal dramavaccine approvals, decisions on gene therapies, oversight of abortion pills and regulation of vaping.
Earlier this week, the Journal reported that Trump had scolded Makary over the weekend for not acting quickly enough to approve flavored vaporizers and nicotine products. Trump advisers reportedly described Makary as a problem for the administration and said he was blocking the president’s campaign promise to “save vaping.”
Specifically, Makary was said to have avoided approving menthol, mango and blueberry flavors from Los Angeles manufacturer Glas for fear that the flavors could attract young people to vaping. After pressure from Trump, The FDA cleared the vaporizers on Tuesday..
According to the Journal, senior administration officials have seen Makary struggling to manage the FDA while arguing with other health officials. They also noted complaints from the pharmaceutical industry about him.
If Makary is removed, he would join a growing list of vacancies at weakened health agencies overseen by anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Senior leaders at the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health have left en masse amid the Trump administration. The CDC has no director and no surgeon general.
