Washington, DC— President Trump announced on Tuesday, May 12, that Dr. Marty Makary had resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His resignation followed reports that White House officials had discussed replacing him amid disputes over FDA regulatory decisions, though according to Fox News Digital, a White House official said Makary’s resignation was related to "process at the FDA" rather than a single issue.
Following the announcement, President Trump spoke highly of the Johns Hopkins surgeon and public health researcher, saying, “He’s a great doctor and he was having some difficulty, but he’s going to go on, and he’s going to do well."
The leadership vacancy at the agency has propelled Deputy Commissioner for Food, Kyle Diamantas, to acting FDA Commissioner. Before being named acting commissioner, Diamantas served as Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, overseeing the FDA’s Human Foods Program. He oversaw food resources in the agency’s Office of Inspections and Investigations and controlled all Human Food Program entities and operations, including resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy and decision making, policy initiatives, and major response activities involving human foods, according to fda.gov.
Graham Rigby, President & CEO of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), issued a statement on the latest developments. "Guided by our commitment to science, safety, and transparency in the herbal product and dietary supplement industries, AHPA recognizes the critical role the FDA Commissioner plays in overseeing public health. While leadership transitions are a matter of administrative policy, AHPA is committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with FDA to ensure that the interests of our members and the health of the consumers they serve are represented. AHPA has furthered strong relationships with a number of appointed and unappointed agency leaders under this administration, including Kyle Diamantas. We look forward to our continued collaboration with him and his team at FDA to advance a regulatory environment that supports both innovation and consumer safety."
