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# White House Reportedly Moves to Oust Commissioner Makary
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/white-house-reportedly-moves-to-oust-commissioner-makary/
- Published: 2026-05-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T13:38:55.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5161117

President Trump has reportedly signed off on a plan to remove FDA commissioner **Marty Makary** from his post, according to multiple media reports published Friday, potentially setting up another major leadership shakeup at the agency less than 14 months into the Trump administration’s second term. The *Wall Street Journal* first reported that Trump had approved a plan to fire Makary, citing people familiar with the matter, although the move had not yet been finalized and could still change.

Makary, a former Johns Hopkins surgeon and longtime public commentator who became FDA commissioner in 4/2025, was initially viewed as closely aligned with HHS secretary **Robert F. Kennedy Jr.** and the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. But recent weeks have seen mounting tensions surrounding FDA decisions on drug approvals, vaccines and nicotine vaping products.

Several reports pointed to disputes over flavored e-cigarette authorizations as a major tipping point. The *Wall Street Journal* reported earlier this week that Trump privately criticized Makary for moving too slowly on approving flavored vape products, an issue viewed as politically important to younger conservative voters.

The reported move to oust Makary also follows a series of controversies inside FDA’s drug and biologics programs, including backlash over high-profile drug rejections and leadership turnover. CBER director **Vinay Prasad**, a close Makary ally, stepped down last week following criticism from industry and patient groups over several regulatory decisions.

One particularly contentious case involved the FDA’s rejection of Replimune’s melanoma therapy RP1\. Makary publicly defended the decision during a CNBC interview this week ([see story](https://www.fdaweb.com/makary-defends-fda-drug-decisions/)).

At the same time, Makary’s FDA has drawn criticism from some public health experts and former agency officials for relying heavily on public announcements and speeches rather than formal rulemaking and guidance processes to announce policy shifts.

The Associated Press reported this week that FDA policy changes under Makary and Kennedy — including moves involving food dyes, vaccine review standards and expedited approvals — were often rolled out through press events and voluntary industry agreements instead of traditional regulatory channels.

Makary’s tenure has also been marked by significant internal turnover.

If Makary is removed, it remains unclear who would temporarily lead the agency. The principal deputy commissioner position remains vacant after **Sara Brenner** recently moved to HHS as a senior counselor.

Advocacy group Public Citizen warned that if Makary is pushed out, the next nominee might be even worse. "As a society, it is essential for the FDA to be doing its many jobs, effectively and based on science, not personal whims and political considerations," it said. "We must have an FDA commissioner who will lead with unquestioned integrity, ensure independence from Pharma and political interference, and inspire confidence, both within the agency and for the American people.” 

The group characterized Makary's leadership as having been "chaotic, dysfunctional, and all over the place on its standards for drug and biologics approvals and other policy matters. The leadership ranks have frequently turned over, the demoralized staff have been eviscerated, and the agency’s independent evidence-based scientific process has been repeatedly compromised by political interference. Makary’s sensible initiatives, such as clamping down on misleading drug advertisements and excluding certain high-profile diabetes and weight loss drugs from compounding, have been overshadowed by the constant flip-flops and drama."