President Donald Trump is planning to fire Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, according to reports. People familiar with the president's plan told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has signed off on a plan to let the commissioner, a prominent Make America Healthy Again figure, go. The plan, however, is not final.
Makary, a surgical oncologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was nominated by Trump and confirmed as FDA commissioner in March 2025. If Trump's plan is carried out, Makary would be the latest top health official to be fired since CDC Director Susan Monarez was let go last summer and Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill was fired in February.
As the FDA commissioner, Makary is responsible for the agency that handles regulation and approval of human and veterinary medications, vaccines, medical devices, America's food and ingredients, cosmetics and tobacco. White House spokesman Kush Desai told the Journal: '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.' Daily Mail contacted the FDA for comment but has not received a response.
Rumors of a potential Makary firing have been reportedly circulating and intensifying in recent weeks as the commissioner has clashed with the president on several health initiatives. People familiar with the matter also told the Journal Trump lashed out at Makary last week for not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vapes and nicotine products. In February, Makary refused to authorize blueberry and mango vape flavors, worried that the sweet varieties would encourage young people and teens to take up the potentially dangerous habit.
Makary has also been plagued by turnover among FDA leadership and widespread layoffs at the hand of Trump's DOGE. People familiar with the matter have also said leaders in the pharmaceutical industry have complained about Makary.
