President Trump Signs Off on Ousting FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Amid Policy Tensions

President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to remove U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, according to senior administration officials. The decision, reported on Friday, May 8, 2026, signals a potential end to a high-friction tenure defined by controversial drug rejections and shifting social policies.

While the President has reportedly approved the ouster, the dismissal has not yet been formally executed. Officials familiar with the situation cautioned that the decision remains fluid and the President could still change course before a public announcement.

The Mifepristone Breaking Point

The drive to remove Makary has been fueled in large part by intense pressure from anti-abortion activists. These groups have sharply criticized both the FDA and the White House for failing to further restrict access to mifepristone, the primary medication used in chemical abortions.

Frustration peaked recently when the agency allowed a new generic version of the pill to enter the market rather than moving to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements. Notably, senior White House staffers are scheduled to meet with prominent anti-abortion leaders Friday evening—a meeting widely seen as a catalyst for the decision to move on from Makary.

Friction with the Pharmaceutical Industry

Beyond social issues, Makary has faced a "revolt" from drugmakers and some administration aides over his agency’s "methodological purity." During his 14-month tenure, the FDA issued a series of unexpected rejections for high-profile treatments, including:

• RP1: An advanced melanoma therapy from Replimune.

• Deramiocel: A treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy.

• Bitopertin: A rare disease drug that had previously been prioritized for review.

Industry leaders argued that these rejections were "moving the goalposts" on clinical trials, leading to a breakdown in communication between the regulator and the regulated.

A Growing Vacancy Crisis

Should Trump move forward with the firing, it would leave the nation's health department with a staggering leadership vacuum just months before the 2026 midterm elections. The agency is already reeling from the recent departure of Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s top vaccine official and a close ally of Makary, who left in late April following his own public spats with pharmaceutical giants.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) currently lacks:

• A permanent CDC Director

• A permanent Surgeon General

• A permanent Vaccine Chief

White House spokespeople have not officially commented on the reports, though sources indicate the administration is looking for a successor who can better balance the President’s "Most Favored Nation" drug pricing goals with the demands of his political base.

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