Trump Expected to Fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary

President Donald Trump has approved a plan to remove FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, CNN reported Thursday, citing a senior administration official. The decision has not been formally executed, and those familiar with the matter noted Trump could still reverse course.

When asked directly by a CNN reporter whether he intended to fire Makary, Trump deflected. He said he had seen reports but claimed no personal knowledge of the matter.

Pressure From Multiple Directions

FDA Commissioner Makary had faced a widening coalition of critics inside and outside the administration. Anti-abortion groups were among the most vocal, pushing the White House to restrict access to mifepristone, the abortion pill. Makary’s handling of that effort drew sharp rebukes from advocates who felt he moved too slowly. Senior White House staff were scheduled to meet with those groups on Friday.

Pharmaceutical industry figures also raised complaints about Makary’s management of the drug approval process. A separate flashpoint emerged when he resisted internal pressure to greenlight fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, a decision that reportedly angered Trump directly.

A Rocky Year at the FDA

Makary, a surgeon and published author, was confirmed as FDA commissioner in March 2025. He came in promising faster decisions on drugs, devices, and vaccines. His tenure proved turbulent almost immediately. Industry officials grew frustrated with approval timelines. Administration insiders questioned his oversight of areas ranging from vaccine policy to tobacco regulation.

His close ally at the agency, top vaccine regulator Dr. Vinay Prasad, recently departed following separate criticism over his own leadership decisions. That exit left the FDA without a permanent head of its vaccine division.

Vacancies Pile Up Across HHS

A Makary firing would add another vacancy to an already thinly staffed Department of Health and Human Services. The agency currently lacks both a permanent CDC director and a surgeon general. As of Friday, no clear successor to Makary had been identified, complicating the timeline for any formal removal.

Also Read: What the HHS Restructuring Means for US Drug Policy

The accumulation of leadership gaps across health agencies arrives less than six months before the midterm elections. The White House faces growing scrutiny over its management of public health institutions at a sensitive political moment.

Also Read: Vinay Prasad Exits FDA Vaccine Role Amid Policy Disputes