Dr. Marty Makary Confirmed as FDA Commissioner, Says He Will Review Recent Mass Layoffs at Agency
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The Trump Administration’s pick for Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. was confirmed by the Senate on March 25, 2025 in a 53-47 vote.
Dr. Makary has been an outspoken critic of FDA in the past, for example, calling for greater diversity in the agency’s leadership in a 2021 op-ed published by Fox News. He wrote, "fresh leadership [is needed] at the FDA to change the culture at the agency and promote scientific advancement, not hinder it."
During his confirmation hearing, Dr. Makary remarked, making reference to the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, "President Trump and [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] Secretary Kennedy's focus on healthy foods has galvanized a grassroots movement in America... We should be, and we will be, addressing food as it impacts our health.”
Additionally, when questioned about mass firings that swept FDA in February, Dr. Makary said he would review the recent layoffs. “I have not been involved in any of the decisions regarding any of the personnel changes recently, but if confirmed, you have my commitment that I’ll do an assessment,” he stated.
Per his website, Dr. Makary is a surgeon, public health researcher, and author, who previously served in leadership at the World Health Organization (WHO). Most recently, he was the Chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins. He has published two bestselling books and more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific articles, and his research focuses on the improvement of the health of communities and the “redesign of healthcare” to be more "reliable, holistic, and coordinated," especially for vulnerable populations.
Update, April 1, 2025: Dr. Makary has been sworn in as FDA Commissioner.
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