FDA Commissioner Makary Exits Under Pressure as Diamantas Takes Acting Helm

Marty Makary has resigned as Food and Drug Administration commissioner after serving roughly 14 months in the role, with Kyle Diamantas—the agency's top food official—assuming the acting commissioner position, according to sources familiar with the matter. The transition marks another turbulent chapter for an agency that has faced sustained scrutiny over its direction under the Trump administration.

Internal dissatisfaction with Makary's leadership had been building within segments of the Department of Health and Human Services for months before his departure, FDA sources told STAT. Officials had been exploring mechanisms to remove him well before the speculation intensified last Friday, when multiple outlets reported that President Trump planned to fire him. HHS leadership, including Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., had begun identifying potential replacements as pressure mounted. The White House and spokespeople for Makary and HHS did not respond to requests for comment.

Diamantas, who previously served as the FDA's top food regulator, inherits an agency navigating significant regulatory uncertainty. The leadership change comes amid broader questions about the agency's enforcement posture and its relationship with the administration. Makary's tenure was characterized by attempts to balance scientific integrity with White House priorities, a tension that ultimately proved unsustainable. The speed of his departure and the selection of Diamantas suggest HHS officials prioritized continuity in food safety oversight, though the long-term implications for FDA operations remain unclear as career leadership transitions and political pressure intensify.