Marty Makary, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is leaving his post 13 months after his appointment.
His resignation was reportedly pushed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. No official reason for the dismissal has been disclosed.
One of the most widely cited explanations is a conflict between Makary and the Trump administration over the regulation of fruit-flavored vaping products. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump advocated lifting restrictions on their sale, arguing that the government had become overly intrusive in the sector.
Makary, who favored a tougher FDA stance, opposed easing the rules. The agency has long argued that such products contribute to nicotine addiction among children and teenagers. According to U.S. media reports, disagreements over the issue had already led to tensions between the FDA chief and the White House.
Another explanation for the resignation centers on Makary’s position regarding initiatives promoted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and backed by Trump to reduce the number of mandatory childhood vaccinations. According to sources, the FDA chief viewed the proposed changes as too radical and did not support them in their current form.