WASHINGTON – The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has resigned about a week after the agency approved the marketing of some fruit-flavored e-cigarette products for the first time.
Marty Makary had led the agency for 13 months. During his tenure, the FDA faced criticism from the White House, Congress, industry groups and public health advocates.
According to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump approved a plan earlier this month to remove Makary after expressing frustration that the agency had not moved more quickly to authorize fruit-flavored vaping products. The FDA had previously limited approvals to tobacco- and menthol-flavored products.
The Wall Street Journal also reported Makary attempted to block agency scientists from authorizing the new products but faced pressure from the White House to move forward.
Tony Abboud, president of the Vapor Technology Association, told The Hill that he met with Makary last week to discuss creating a more predictable regulatory framework for vaping products. Abboud said Makary appeared to be reconsidering his position, but described those efforts as “too little, too late.”
Abboud also said Makary had been “very hostile to vaping products” and focused on concerns about youth vaping, particularly related to fruit-flavored products.
In a statement, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized efforts to expand access to flavored vaping products and said Makary resisted pressure to approve them.
“I voted for Dr. Makary to head the FDA based upon his commitment to say ‘no’ if President Trump asked him to do something that would harm America. Dr. Makary kept his word. He resisted Trump’s plan to expose millions of children to the dangers of vaping,” Durbin said. “I hope Dr. Makary will inspire others within the Trump Administration to grow a spine and put the families of America ahead of blind loyalty to this President.”
Durbin has long been active on tobacco regulation issues, citing the death of his father from lung cancer.
According to The Hill, Trump said during his campaign that he would “save vaping,” while industry groups had grown frustrated with the FDA’s pace on product approvals.
Makary also faced scrutiny during his tenure over other regulatory decisions, including disputes with lawmakers over drug approvals and the agency’s review of mifepristone, an abortion medication.
Former acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the agency’s handling of some vaccine-related research raised concerns about transparency. Other decisions, including an initial refusal to consider Moderna’s updated flu vaccine, were later reversed after public backlash.
The FDA’s top food regulator, Kyle Diamantas, will serve as acting commissioner, Trump said on Truth Social.
Makary’s departure leaves another vacancy among top federal health leadership positions, with no permanent surgeon general or director currently in place at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
