The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Marty Makary on Tuesday (local time) resigned from his position, marking the fourth high-profile exit of a member from President Donald Trump’s administration this year.
Makary’s departure comes several days after it was reported that the US President was considering removing him after months of dissatisfaction with some of his work at the FDA, AP reported.
Makary’s 13-month tenure was marked by months of criticism from health industry executives, anti-abortion activists, vaping lobbyists, and other allies of Trump.
According to a Bloomberg report, Kyle Diamantas, a lawyer who previously served as the FDA’s top food official, is expected to take over the commissioner role in an acting capacity. The Trump administration is also considering additional personnel changes at the agency.
Makary rose to prominence during COVID-19
A surgeon and health researcher, Makary came to prominence among Republicans as an outspoken critic of COVID-19 health measures during the pandemic when he frequently appeared on Fox News.
But he struggled to manage the health agency’s bureaucracy and failed to win the confidence of its staff after mass layoffs, leadership changes, and a series of controversies in which the FDA’s scientific principles were seemingly overriden by political interests, including those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
