Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary has resigned.
His departure had virtually nothing to do with the agency’s food stewardship operations, but rather came after months of tension over the agency’s failure to act more quickly on abortion drugs. He also exchanged views with President Trump on whether to approve the new vaping products he had promised voters.
Makary was scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday to discuss the FDA budget. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was not known whether anyone would attend the hearing or whether testimony on the budget would be delayed until other FDA officials could prepare.
In recent days, President Trump has repeatedly denied there are any plans to remove McCurry, but some in his administration have said the plan has been approved. On the Tuesday before McCurry resigned, the president refused to tell reporters whether the FDA director would leave voluntarily or be fired.
“Well, I don’t want to say it, but Marty is a great guy, he’s a friend of mine. He’s a great guy, and he’s leaving, and my assistant, the deputy, is going to take over the job temporarily until we find it,” Trump said. “Everyone wants that job. It’s a very important job.”
“Marty’s a great guy, but he’s going on to have a good life. He was going through a little bit of trouble. You know, he’s a great doctor and he was going through a little bit of trouble.”
The aide Trump mentioned was Kyle Diamantas, a lawyer who served as the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food.
