DEVELOPING: Leading Candidate Emerges To Head FDA In Trump Administration

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Multiple outlets report that Johns Hopkins surgeon and author Marty Makary has emerged as the leading candidate to run the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters of the developments.

However, the decision is not final.

“Makary raised concerns about a number of public health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, touting the protection from natural immunity and opposing COVID vaccine mandates,” Reuters noted.

Per Reuters:

The FDA is the world’s most influential drug regulator with a more than $7 billion budget. It is responsible for approving new treatments and assuring they are safe and effective before entering the biggest and most lucrative market. It has regulatory authority over human and veterinary drugs, biological medicines, medical devices and vaccines.

The agency is also responsible for maintaining safety standards for the food supply, tobacco, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, said he would not speculate on or get ahead of any announcement.

As FDA commissioner, Makary would report to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the HHS.

President Trump Announces Position For Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In His Administration

“@MartyMakary would be a fantastic choice to lead the @US_FDA. He is not beholden to pharma interests, is a brave and independent thinker, and a good man,” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya commented.

Bloomberg reports:

Makary has a long career as a health researcher, writing on hospital safety and quality and health-care prices. In recent public appearances he’s drawn attention to rising rates of chronic disease and the role of ultraprocessed foods and environmental exposures, issues that have been been high on the agenda for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Makary recently appeared on Fox News praising Kennedy, who has a history of promoting debunked theories that vaccines cause autism, and Makary urged the audience to disregard Kennedy’s earlier comments.

“He’s saying very clearly he’s not anti-vax, he’s not going to remove or take away anyone’s vaccines,” he said on the show.

Makary criticized the FDA’s approval of Covid-19 vaccine boosters following the pandemic. In a 2023 Wall Street Journal op-ed he wrote that vaccines shouldn’t be universally recommended for younger, lower-risk patients without more data from human trials.

“Undermining the normal scientific and regulatory process erodes public trust,” he wrote.



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