...
By Amanda Castro and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday, with Kyle Diamantas, the agency's chief for foods, taking over in an acting capacity, the Associated Press reported.
The change comes at a sensitive time for federal health policy, as Makary and the FDA faced scrutiny over drug approvals, vaccine oversight and regulatory direction. Diamantas is expected to guide the agency through the transition while the White House weighs a permanent nominee, with decisions likely to affect drugmakers, public health agencies and consumers nationwide.
Diamantas has been overseeing nationwide food safety and nutrition policy and as a key liaison between the agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House.
Read More on U.S.
...
Why Did Trump want to Fire Makary?
According to multiple outlets, President Donald Trump had signed off on a plan to fire Makary—a move that followed sustained criticism of his handling of the reintroduction of flavored vapes to the U.S. market, a stalled review of the abortion pill mifepristone and public disputes with drugmakers over evaluations of lifesaving medicines and vaccines. The tensions reflected competing pressures inside the administration, where tobacco companies, anti‑abortion groups and biotech investors viewed Makary as an obstacle to their priorities.
At the center of the dispute was the agency’s resistance to authorizing popular fruit‑flavored e‑cigarettes, a top demand of major tobacco donors. Despite internal pressure, the FDA initially signaled it would only clear mint, tea and spice flavors. The White House continued to push, and on Tuesday, the agency authorized blueberry and mango products from a small California company—a move that did little to ease frustration among Trump‑aligned industry groups.
Makary also faced sustained attacks from anti‑abortion organizations, including Susan B. Anthony Pro‑Life America, which accused him of slow‑walking a safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone. Former Vice President Mike Pence amplified the criticism, adding to conservative pressure on the White House to remove him.
Biotech firms, meanwhile, complained about a series of FDA rejections for rare‑disease treatments, warning that the decisions were chilling investment. Makary defended the denials as evidence‑based calls made by career scientists.
The commissioner’s relationship with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. added further strain. Kennedy publicly pushed the FDA to authorize peptides, stem‑cell treatments and raw milk products that Makary’s agency had previously restricted.
Despite the mounting grievances, Trump had wavered and Makary successfully fought off earlier attempts to oust him. Leaving the White House on Friday, Trump dismissed reports of an imminent firing, saying he “knew nothing about it.”
Makary’s planned departure comes after weeks of mounting pressure from powerful Republican lawmakers, anti‑abortion groups and the Wall Street Journal editorial board, all of whom accused the FDA chief of obstructing their priorities. According to five people familiar with internal dynamics, Makary had also clashed with senior officials at the White House and HHS, leaving him increasingly isolated inside the administration.
Stephen Kent, the Consumer Choice Center’s media director, pointing to what he described as a running rift between Makary and the administration.
“Makary has been in open opposition to the White House since at least August 2025, when he rehired Dr. Vinay Prasad as director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research," Kent said. "Prasad was at the center of a string of biotech delays, denials and regulatory confusion, and the result of that has been significantly less investment in cutting‑edge cures by U.S. pharmaceutical firms.”
What to Know About Kyle Diamantas
Diamantas has been the agency’s top food‑policy official, overseeing the entire Human Foods Program and directing all U.S. nutrition and food‑safety activities. In that role, he has authority over every major food‑related operation at the agency—from resource allocation and risk‑prioritization to policy development and emergency response—and also supervises food‑safety work within the FDA’s Office of Inspections and Investigations.
As the nation’s highest‑ranking food executive, Diamantas sets the strategic direction for federal food policy and represents the United States in food‑safety and regulatory discussions with foreign governments and international organizations.
Diamantas brings extensive experience across federal and state agencies, scientific bodies, consumer‑advocacy groups and industry stakeholders. His background spans regulatory enforcement, compliance, investigations, rulemaking and legislative work. He holds a juris doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Florida.
What Did Trump Say About Makary?
Trump offered remarks about Makary, telling reporters outside the White House, “He’s a great doctor, but he was having some difficulty. But he’s going to go on and he’s going to do well. Everybody wants that job.”
The comment came as the administration moved to replace Makary after months of internal friction and political pressure surrounding his handling of issues.
How Americans Could Be Affected by Makary’s Exit
Diamantas’ leadership of the Human Foods Program suggests a shift toward more centralized control over food‑safety strategy, inspections and outbreak response—changes that could influence how quickly the FDA reacts to contamination events and how aggressively it enforces nutrition standards.
For Americans, the transition raises immediate questions about the pace of drug approvals, the future of telehealth access to reproductive care, and the FDA’s stance on youth‑targeted vaping products. It also places the agency’s stability in the spotlight: After months of internal churn and senior‑staff departures, the FDA’s ability to deliver consistent, science‑driven regulation will shape everything from grocery‑store shelves to the availability of cutting‑edge therapies.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines