Marty Makary, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is reportedly on the verge of being removed from his position by President Donald Trump, according to multiple news outlets. Reports published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post indicate that Makary's departure appears increasingly likely, although the White House has not issued an official statement confirming the change. The reported disputes center on the FDA's handling of nicotine regulations, particularly flavored vaping products, and its approach to abortion policy concerning the medication mifepristone.
Administration officials have reportedly voiced concerns regarding Makary’s management of the FDA and described growing tensions between the commissioner, officials within the Health Department, and White House staff members. The Wall Street Journal specifically noted that Makary had repeatedly clashed with senior administration figures while simultaneously facing challenges in managing the operations of the federal agency responsible for overseeing food, drugs, and medical products across the nation.
One significant area of reported conflict involves the regulation of flavored vaping products and broader nicotine policies under consideration by the Trump administration and FDA leadership. In February, Makary reportedly initially declined to approve certain flavored vape products, including blueberry and mango flavors manufactured by Glas. His reluctance was reportedly rooted in concerns about underage vaping and the increasing use of nicotine among youth. However, reports discussing disagreements between the FDA and White House officials indicate that Makary later allowed these products to proceed for sale after initially resisting their approval.
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, publicly criticized Makary’s handling of vaping product approvals. Williams questioned whether the commissioner fully aligned with the Trump administration's policy goals on this matter. “It’s frustrating because President Trump, during his first term, said that he wanted to move forward with approving these products,” Williams stated in comments reported by CNN, highlighting a perceived misalignment between the FDA’s actions and the President's stated intentions.
Beyond nicotine regulations, reports also suggest that pro-life organizations and anti-abortion advocates have intensified their criticism of Makary. Their concerns stem from the FDA’s handling of mifepristone, a medication commonly used in abortion procedures. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, publicly called for Makary’s removal amidst disputes over a safety review involving the abortion drug. According to The New York Times, pro-life activists believed Makary was progressing too slowly in reviewing mifepristone and investigating safety concerns they had raised regarding the drug. CNN further reported that senior White House staff members had scheduled meetings with pro-life leaders to address frustrations related to abortion policy and the FDA’s regulatory approach under Makary’s leadership.
The potential departure of Makary could be accompanied by broader organizational changes within the FDA, following internal reviews examining agency operations and efficiency, The Washington Post reported. The newspaper also noted that no permanent or acting replacement had been publicly selected to lead the FDA should Makary ultimately leave the commissioner position.
When asked about Makary’s potential removal, White House spokesman Kush Desai did not directly confirm the reports. Instead, Desai offered a general statement, saying that President Trump has assembled an administration focused on achieving “historic victories for the American people.” The absence of an official White House confirmation leaves the exact status of Commissioner Makary's tenure uncertain, even as reports from multiple major news outlets suggest a change is imminent. The implications of such a high-level leadership change at the FDA could be significant for future regulatory decisions pertaining to public health, drug approvals, and medical product oversight.
