FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns Amid Pro-Life Pressure and MAHA Frustrations
Dr. Marty Makary resigned as FDA Commissioner on Tuesday, bringing an end to a turbulent 13-month tenure marked by mounting criticism from pro-life advocates and growing impatience within the Trump administration over the pace of health policy reforms.
Makary insisted there was “no bad blood” between himself and President Donald Trump. However, sources indicate that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. actively pushed for his departure as dissatisfaction with the agency’s direction intensified. Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food, will serve as acting commissioner while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.
The White House highlighted Diamantas’s principled stance early in his legal career. As a junior associate, he removed himself from a case involving Planned Parenthood due to personal objections. “He expressed his objections to representing Planned Parenthood based on his personal convictions,” said White House spokesperson Kush Desai.
Trump publicly praised Makary despite the resignation. “He’s a great doctor and he was having some difficulty, but he’s going to go on and he’s going to do well,” the president told reporters. On Truth Social, Trump thanked Makary for his service, writing: “I want to thank Dr. Marty Makary for having done a great job at the FDA. So much was accomplished under his leadership. He was a hard worker, who was respected by all.”
Kennedy also offered warm words while signaling a new chapter. “Marty, you took on entrenched interests, challenged the status quo, and never lost sight of the American people we serve,” he wrote. “You pushed forward critical reforms and helped advance our mission to Make America Healthy Again. The search for a new Commissioner is already underway, and we will move forward with urgency.”
Makary’s exit comes after sustained pressure from pro-life groups frustrated by the FDA’s continued policies on mifepristone, the primary abortion pill. Advocates had expected swift action to reverse allowances for telehealth prescriptions and mail-order distribution following Trump’s return to office. Instead, those policies remained largely intact, drawing sharp rebukes.
Live Action President Lila Rose publicly called for Makary’s removal, urging Trump and Kennedy to “stop the mail order abortion scheme, and pull these child killing drugs from the market.” Republican Sen. Josh Hawley welcomed the news, stating Makary “was terrible to the pro-life movement” and had attempted to place pro-abortion lawyers in key positions. “Makary’s resignation is an opportunity for the FDA to reset and protect life,” Hawley added.
Beyond abortion policy, reports pointed to internal frustration over the slow rollout of broader “Make America Healthy Again” initiatives. Makary had been scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, making the timing of his departure particularly notable.
The resignation marks the latest significant personnel shift as the Trump administration continues reshaping federal health agencies.
