Trump Reportedly Set to Fire FDA’s Marty Makary

President Donald Trump plans to dismiss U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. 

Makary, whose firing was rumored by news organizations over the preceding week, has been a prominent public advocate of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

A surgeon and researcher, he rose to public prominence as a critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates under former President Joe Biden’s administration. The Senate later confirmed his nomination as commissioner in March 2025.

However, Makary also has been at the center of highly controversial debates. For example, he received harsh criticism from pro-life groups and Republicans in Congress who alleged he was slow walking the safety review of mifepristone abortion pills.

As commissioner, Makary played a major role in implementing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s policy agenda, negotiating with corporations to remove petroleum-based food dyes from food and removing black box warnings from hormonal treatments for menopause. 

The Food and Drug Administration also has overhauled the “food pyramid” dietary guidelines during his tenure.

This week, the FDA authorized the sale of fruit- and menthol-flavored vaping products—a reversal of years of aggressive regulation. The Wall Street Journal had reported Makary’s reluctance to approve their sale was a cause of friction in the administration.