WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has approved a proposal to remove Marty Makary as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, according to a Friday report by The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.
The Journal reported that senior administration officials increasingly view Makary as struggling to manage the FDA, with tensions reportedly emerging among the agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House. Earlier this week, the newspaper reported that Trump criticized Makary for moving too slowly to authorize flavored vape and nicotine products.
If finalized, Makary’s departure would mark the latest shakeup among top federal health officials under the Trump administration, following last summer’s removal of Susan Monarez, who led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The reported move comes amid a turbulent period for the FDA, which has seen several high-profile departures in recent months under Makary’s leadership. Vinay Prasad left the agency last month after serving less than a year in the role.
“President Trump has assembled the most experienced and talented administration in history, an administration that continues to focus on delivering more historic victories for the American people,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.
People familiar with the matter told the Journal that White House officials have become increasingly convinced that Makary should step down after months of turmoil at the agency and rising complaints from segments of the pharmaceutical industry.
Makary, a former pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, was nominated by Trump in November 2024 to succeed former FDA commissioner Robert Califf.
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