This article originally appeared onThe Defenderand was republished with permission.
Guest post byBrenda Baletti, Ph.D.
The Trump administration has signed off on a plan to fire Dr. Marty Makary, who heads up the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),The Wall Street Journal reportedtoday.
However, citing “people familiar with the matter,” the WSJ said, “Trump’s plan isn’t yet final and could change.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the FDA, did not immediately respond to a request to confirm the reports.
Over the past week,reportsbegan circulating about the possible firing, citing concerns over Makary’s decisions on drug approvals, vaccines and the FDA decision to allow a generic form of the so-called abortion pill mifepristone,Reuters reported.
According to the WSJ, “Top administration officials have become increasingly convinced Makary has to go because, in addition to months of turmoil, complaints from some in the pharmaceutical industry have continued to mount.”
In one case, the administration was frustrated that he did not move fast enough to approveflavored vapesand other nicotine products from Los Angeles manufacturerGlas, because he was worried they would encourage youth vaping. He reversed his position and approved the flavors under pressure from the Trump administration.
Makary’s departure would be the latest in a series of high-profile exits from the agency among people generally aligned with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on public health issues.
HHSDeputy Secretary Jim O’Neill, who was also the interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), left his post in February. That same month,Dr. Ralph Abraham resignedasprincipal deputy director of the CDC, citing unforeseen family obligations.
Source: The Vigilant Fox
