Trump Plans to Dismiss FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Amid Agency Turmoil

White House officials signed off on a plan to remove FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, according to multiple sources on May 8, 2026. No formal dismissal notice has been issued.

STAT (News)

Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgical oncologist, was confirmed as FDA commissioner in March 2025 under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. His tenure saw accelerated drug-review initiatives, a push to eliminate artificial food dyes, and high staff turnover—“thousands of employees” have left. President Donald Trump, White House spokesman Kush Desai, anti-abortion leader Marjorie Dannenfelser, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance president David Williams have publicly weighed in.

Reuters

• Mar 2025: Makary confirmed.

Mediaite

• Feb 2026: FDA reversed a Moderna flu-vaccine refusal after Trump’s pressure.

BioSpace

• Early 2026: Makary blocked fruit-flavored vapes; Trump demanded approval, prompting reversal.

Raw Story

• May 8 2026: WSJ reports Trump’s sign-off on Makary’s removal; anti-abortion activists meet White House.

Reproductive Freedom for All on Trump Ousting FDA Commissioner Amid Mounting Pressure from Anti-Abortion Extremists Who Want to Ban Mifepristone

A vacancy weeks before the November midterms creates a political flashpoint. The FDA’s authority over drug and vaccine approvals, tobacco regulation, and abortion-pill policy makes the appointment critical for public health and elections. Senate confirmation will be required. Agency turnover and market moves—UniQure up 13 % and Replimune 16 %—highlight the stakes.

Washington Examiner

Kush Desai praised the administration, saying it was the most experienced and talented in history. Anti-abortion groups, led by Marjorie Dannenfelser, called for Makary’s removal, citing “indifference” to pro-life voters. A Moderna executive called the February vaccine refusal a “complete stunner,” reflecting industry frustration.

Washington Examiner

Anti-abortion activists say Makary stalled stricter mifepristone regulations. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance sees the FDA’s vape reversal as political appeasement, not science-based. Biotech firms criticize inconsistent guidance that delays novel therapies.

Bloomberg

Sources differ on whether Trump formally signed the dismissal or merely approved a plan under review. Neither HHS nor Makary has confirmed the action, and details about a replacement remain undisclosed.

CNN

• “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,” — Kush Desai, White House spokesman

BioSpace

• “It’s frustrating because President Trump, during his first term, said that he wanted to move forward with approving these products, and we didn’t see that happen,” — David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance

CNN

• “FDA Commissioner Makary should be fired immediately,” — Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA Pro-Life America

CNN

• “complete stunner.” — Moderna executive (unnamed)

CNN

The White House is expected to nominate a successor, a choice that will face Senate scrutiny. Ongoing pressure from anti-abortion coalitions and the pharmaceutical industry suggests the FDA’s policy direction will remain contested through the upcoming election cycle.

CNN