Dr. Marty Makary, chief of the Food and Drug Administration, is present at a discussion regarding accessible health care in the Oval Office at the White House, April 23, 2026, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP
The Food and Drug Administration’s Director, Marty Makary, is planning to step down on Tuesday, according to a pair of sources familiar with the situation who spoke with ABC News.
His exit was developing following open disagreements with legislators, prominent pharmaceutical businesses, and even President Donald Trump himself. He was slated to give testimony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Trump was questioned by journalists on Tuesday about Makary’s potential resignation and indicated that Deputy Director Kyle Diamanta would temporarily assume the responsibilities.
The president remarked, “Marty is a terrific individual,” but continued that he was “encountering some challenges.”
“Everyone desires that position,” Trump stated.
Neither the FDA nor the White House has offered any comment in response to inquiries.
Makary, a trained surgeon, achieved recognition during the COVID-19 crisis, contending against face coverings for young people and vaccine requirements, in addition to criticizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for using data from Israel when recommending boosters rather than performing its own analyses.
Since commencing his role in March 2025, the chief has dedicated his efforts towards reforming vaccine protocols in the United States and revolutionizing dietary habits for Americans.
Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration commissioner, attends an event on health care affordability in the Oval Office at the White House, April 23, 2026, in Washington.Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed his appreciation to Makary for promoting the MAHA initiative while serving the people of America.
“Marty, you confronted established vested interests, questioned the present order, and remained focused on the American citizens we serve,” Kennedy expressed in a message on X.
“You advanced crucial changes and aided in progressing our goal to Revitalize America’s Health,” he penned, while including, “I value your bravery and your companionship. Sending you my best wishes for your future endeavors.”
Makary was featured in a clip on X alongside Kennedy when the secretary shared in May 2025 the removal of the COVID-19 immunization from the CDC’s schedule of vaccinations for “healthy children and pregnant women.”
“There is no proof that healthy children require it in the present day, and a majority of countries have ceased recommending it for children,” Makary noted at that moment.
In the past year, Makary was present at a press gathering where it was revealed that the HHS and FDA would be putting into action a collection of procedures to gradually eliminate eight artificial food dyes and color additives from the food products available in America by the end of 2026.
Makary stated at that time that the agencies are aiming to rescind authorization for two manufactured food colorings and to collaborate alongside the food sector to eradicate six residual artificial dyes utilized in items such as cereal, frozen desserts, refreshments, yogurts and more — asserting that American youth “have been existing in a harmful combination of artificial substances.”
Makary additionally supported Kennedy’s revised federal dietary recommendations from earlier in the current year. These guidelines advocated for individuals in America to diminish their consumption of extensively processed foods and processed carbohydrates while further promoting the intake of red meat and whole-fat dairy products, a departure from earlier nutritional recommendations.
“For several decades, we have been provided with an erroneous dietary pyramid that has featured a constricted emphasis on demonizing wholesome natural saturated fats, encouraging you to refrain from eating eggs and steak while overlooking a massive gap: processed carbohydrates, refined sugars, ultra-processed foods,” Makary expressed. “Within these new recommendations, we are conveying to young individuals, children, schools, that you do not have to be cautious surrounding fats and dairy. … You do not have to push low-fat milk upon children.”
During the early part of May, Trump reproached Makary for failing to take action quickly enough to approve flavored vape and nicotine goods, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s advisors communicated to him that Makary was holding up the president’s endeavor to “preserve” vaping,” a commitment Trump voiced on social media during his presidential campaign, according to the Journal.
The FDA revealed its initial approval of electronic cigarettes with fruit flavors intended for adult smokers on the sixth of May. In the preceding week, the FDA endorsed four fresh devices produced by Glas, encompassing classic menthol, fresh menthol, gold, and sapphire pods. “Gold” possesses a mango flavor, and “sapphire” is flavored as blueberry.
This verdict, symbolizing a notable alteration in policy from federal health authorities, aroused worries among groups of pediatricians and advocacy organizations pertaining to the likely consequences on minors.
Makary informed ABC News’ Linsey Davis in July, “There isn’t an approved vaping item within the United States that contains one of these appealing fruity flavors.”
“We are concerned about young individuals who are commencing vaping without previous experience,” he supplemented. “I have, in person, encountered young people who are conscious they are hooked, have a desire to no longer be hooked, yet are unable to halt this path of addiction that they are undergoing.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com