FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Clashes With White House

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigned Tuesday after a turbulent 13-month tenure marked by clashes with the White House, industry groups, and anti-abortion activists at one of the nation’s most powerful health agencies.

President Donald Trump confirmed Makary’s departure to reporters and said Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food, would serve as acting commissioner while the administration searches for a permanent replacement. Trump praised Makary, saying: “Marty is a terrific guy, but he’s going to go on, and he’s going to lead a good life. He was having some difficulty. The assistant, the deputy, is taking over temporarily until we find someone.”

Trump also wrote on Truth Social about the departure: “I want to thank Dr. Marty Makary for having done a great job at the FDA. So much was accomplished under his leadership. He was a hard worker, who was respected by all, and will go on to have an outstanding career in Medicine. Kyle Diamantas, a very talented person, will be put in the Acting position. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

He also posted what appears to be a screenshot of a text message from Makary tendering his resignation while touting his accomplishments. The message began, “Dr. President Trump, Please accept my resignation, effective today. During my tenure, I announced 50 major FDA reforms. Joe Biden‘s FDA had none.”

Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and former Fox News contributor, had been confirmed in 2025 as part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape federal health agencies under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His exit now adds another vacancy to an already unstable federal health leadership structure, with the CDC also lacking a permanent director.

His tenure also drew criticism from anti-abortion groups over a stalled review involving the abortion pill mifepristone, from pharmaceutical executives frustrated by unpredictable drug decisions, and from vaping lobbyists who accused the agency of moving too slowly. AP reported that Makary angered several groups aligned with Trump, including industry figures and abortion opponents.

He became nationally known through his work at Johns Hopkins University, where he specialized in gastrointestinal surgery and pancreatic diseases. He helped develop surgical safety protocols, including contributions to the “surgery checklist” later adopted by hospitals around the world in collaboration with the World Health Organization. A published author, Makary also built a reputation for criticizing the healthcare industry in his books.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became a familiar face on cable news, especially on Fox News. Makary initially supported masks and vaccines but later criticized vaccine mandates, school closures, and booster policies for younger Americans. His skepticism toward parts of the federal pandemic response made him popular with conservatives and eventually caught the attention of Trump.

During his time at the FDA, Makary pushed faster drug reviews, food policy changes, and the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. In February, the FDA highlighted its role in new steps involving food coloring claims, including efforts to encourage companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors.

But the agency also faced staff turnover, internal tensions, and questions over political interference. AP reported that Makary struggled to manage the FDA’s complex bureaucracy, while his deputies faced criticism over vaccine policy and drug approval decisions.

Diamantas enters the role with a narrower public profile. FDA leadership pages listed him as deputy commissioner for food as of May 4, and the agency described him in February as involved in food dye policy changes.