White House Plans to Fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary

President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to remove Marty Makary from his position as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to reports published on May 8, 2026. The move follows a period of significant friction between the agency’s leadership, the White House and Republican lawmakers over several high-profile regulatory and public health decisions.

The Wall Street Journal reported on May 8, 2026, that the administration has approved the plan to fire Makary, although the decision is not yet final and remains subject to change. The tension stems from a series of controversial agency actions that have reportedly impacted public trust and internal agency operations.

Central to the conflict are several public health decisions regarding immunizations. The FDA under Makary’s leadership moved to pull back publications concerning the safety of Covid and shingles vaccines, a set of decisions that have caused instability within the public health sector.

Beyond vaccine policy, the agency has faced scrutiny over fundamental shifts in its regulatory processes. These include a transition from requiring two clinical trials to only one for certain approvals, the introduction of new priority review vouchers, and the implementation of what have been described as data-free regulatory decisions.

The internal environment at the FDA has also deteriorated during Makary’s tenure. Staff morale has plummeted, driven by a combination of layoffs and the appointment of officials described as divisive.

Reports on Makary’s leadership style have been critical. Bloomberg News reported on May 5, 2026, that the commissioner is viewed as an embattled, paranoid leader who is one more high-profile misstep away from losing his position.

Additional analysis from Notus suggests that Makary is on thin ice with the White House because he is not the best fit to navigate the federal bureaucracy or manage agency staff.

The political clashes leading to this point have spanned several sensitive areas of health policy, including the oversight of the abortion pill, regulations surrounding vaping, and various drug approvals.

Despite the current turmoil, Makary has previously pursued specific public health initiatives. In 2025, the commissioner announced the FDA’s intention to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes.

The potential leadership change comes amid a broader critique of the agency’s current state, with President Trump characterizing the FDA as a complete mess.