The main entrance to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Building 1, which houses the Commissioner’s office, in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Photo by Michael J. Ermath/FDA)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary on Tuesday became the latest member of President Donald Trump’s administration to leave office this year.
“I want to thank Dr. Marty Makary for his great work at the FDA. So much has been accomplished under his leadership,” Trump wrote on social media. “He was a hard worker who was respected by everyone and will have an outstanding career in medicine. Kyle Diamantas, a very talented individual, is being tapped for the acting position.”
Diamantas worked as deputy commissioner for food and led the program, which focuses on nutrition and food safety.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote in a social media post that Makary “has advanced critical reforms and helped advance our mission to make America healthy again.”
“I would also like to thank Kyle Diamantas for stepping in as Acting Commissioner – his leadership has already achieved notable successes on the MAHA food agenda and I have full confidence in his continued work,” Kennedy added. “We have an excellent team at the FDA and the work continues without pause. The search for a new commissioner is already underway and we will move forward at full speed.”
Makary’s resignation marks the fourth time that a senior member of the Trump administration has either left the Trump administration or been forced out of office in recent months.
Kristi Noem was repressed He was named homeland security secretary in early March and then moved to another job as special envoy. Pam Bondi resigned In early April he became attorney general in order to return to the private sector. And Lori Chavez DeRemer resigned At the end of April he was appointed labor minister after scandals.
The Senate voted for confirmation Makary will take the helm of the FDA in March 2025, with support from Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
Abortion with medication
Makary’s decision to leave the FDA comes several months after anti-abortion organizations and some Republicans in Congress called on Trump to fire him over his record on access to abortion drugs.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, both released statements in December They are pushing for the FDA to restrict access to mifepristone.
“The FDA needs a new commissioner to immediately reinstate in-person dispensing, as it existed under President Trump’s first term, and immediately conduct a comprehensive study,” Dannenfelser wrote in a statement at the time. “Commissioner Makary seriously undermines the pro-life credentials of President Trump and Vice President Vance and their position that states should have the right to enact and enforce pro-life protections. Makary must go.”
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to Makary The next day, he urged him to complete a review of current mifepristone prescribing guidelines.
Their frustration followed a Bloomberg law News article However, Makary did not want to release the study’s results until after the November midterm elections, which will determine which political party controls Congress for the next two years.
