FDA Leadership Turmoil: Ousting of CDER Acting Director Tracey Beth Høeg

Tracey Beth Høeg, the acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), was removed from her post late Friday. The agency announced the change without detailed justification. Her departure follows a series of recent leadership shifts as the White House seeks to steady health agencies before the November midterm elections.

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The shakeup began when FDA Commissioner Marty Makary was dismissed last Tuesday. Høeg, the fifth head or acting head of CDER since the Trump administration took office, had served as acting director since December. The administration frames the changes as a response to criticism and an effort to restore confidence in the agency ahead of the upcoming elections.

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• Tracey Beth Høeg – Sports-medicine doctor, political appointee, known for vaccine skepticism; worked with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on childhood-vaccine policy.

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• Marty Makary – Former FDA commissioner, dismissed last Tuesday.

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• Kyle Diamantas – Acting FDA commissioner, slated to remain through early December pending a permanent nominee.

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• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Health Secretary who collaborated with Høeg on reducing recommended childhood vaccines.

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• December – Høeg appointed acting CDER director.

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• Early November (Tuesday) – Commissioner Marty Makary dismissed.

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• Late November (Friday) – Høeg removed from CDER.

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• Early December – Acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas to stay in post.

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Frequent leadership turnover may disrupt the FDA’s regulatory continuity, especially in drug evaluation, vaccine policy, and emerging treatments. Occurring months before the November midterms, the reshuffle adds a political dimension as the administration seeks to mitigate criticism and preserve agency credibility and confidence.

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After her dismissal, Høeg posted on social media that she was “incredibly grateful” for the chance to serve the country, praised FDA staff as “smart, talented, supportive,” and said she “learned so much & leave with no regrets.” The Hill requested comment from the FDA.

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Public-health experts warned that Høeg’s vaccine-skeptic stance, her work with Kennedy Jr. to cut recommended childhood vaccines, and her role in a report linking COVID-19 vaccines to child deaths could erode confidence in the agency’s vaccine oversight.

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• “I’m incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to serve this country & proud of the work we did,” — Tracey Beth Høeg

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• “FDA staff are smart, talented, supportive & don’t get enough credit.” — Tracey Beth Høeg

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• “FDA staff are smart, talented, supportive & don’t get enough credit. I learned so much & leave with no regrets.” — Tracey Beth Høeg

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The administration is expected to nominate a permanent FDA commissioner soon, while Kyle Diamantas remains as acting head through early December.

The Hill