Dr. Marty Makary is stepping down as FDA Commissioner after just over a year leading the agency, amid reports of mounting political pressure, internal conflict, and ongoing controversy over the FDA’s direction under the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
According to multiple reports, Makary’s resignation was likely not entirely voluntary. Major outlets, including Reuters and POLITICO, describe weeks of escalating clashes with White House and HHS officials over issues ranging from abortion-pill regulation to flavored vaping products. President Donald Trump reportedly pushed the agency to authorize flavored e-cigarette products more quickly, while Makary resisted over concerns about youth vaping.
Trump publicly acknowledged the resignation, saying Makary “was having some difficulty,” fueling speculation that the commissioner resigned in anticipation of being removed.
Kyle Diamantas will now serve as Acting FDA Commissioner. Diamantas previously served as the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food and is considered a close ally of Secretary Kennedy and the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.
Diamantas, a former corporate attorney, has already signaled support for major shifts in FDA food policy, including increased scrutiny of ultra-processed foods. His appointment suggests the administration intends to continue reshaping the FDA around Kennedy’s priorities — particularly in food regulation, chronic disease policy, and regulatory reform.
Time will tell whether the FDA’s leadership transition accelerates the kinds of reforms many in the natural health movement have long hoped to see under the broader “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Whether those expectations translate into meaningful institutional change—or simply more political turbulence at an already unsettled agency—remains to be seen.
