Trump Moves to Oust FDA Chief Makary Amid Vaping, Vaccine Disputes
President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to fire Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday, May 8, 2026. Sources familiar with the matter told the Journal that the decision is not yet final and could change, but a source close to the White House stated flatly that Makary “is done.” The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the FDA, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The potential firing caps a week of intensifying reports about Makary’s precarious position, fueled by clashes over his stances on drug approvals, vaccine research, and the abortion pill mifepristone. Makary, a surgical oncologist and bestselling author, was confirmed as FDA commissioner in March 2025 and has been a key figure in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement championed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Vaping Flashpoint
At the heart of Trump’s frustration is Makary’s refusal to quickly legalize flavored e-cigarettes. The Daily Beast reported on May 5 that Trump has been pushing Makary to approve flavored vapes from Glas, a California-based company, arguing the move is critical to wooing young MAGA voters. Trump, who during his 2024 campaign promised to “save vaping,” has reversed his first-term policies that raised the nicotine purchase age to 21 and effectively banned fruity and mint flavors to curb teen vaping.
Makary, however, reportedly blocked this push, declining to greenlight menthol, blueberry, and mango flavors. This resistance has turned the commissioner into a “thorn in the administration’s side,” according to White House insiders, and contributed to Trump’s growing willingness to fire top officials after a relatively restrained first year of his second term.
Broader Tensions and Vaccine Study Controversy
Makary’s potential exit is not solely about vaping. His tenure has been marked by rocky relationships within the administration, including frequent turnover of senior FDA staff. Dr. Richard Pazdur, a longtime cancer regulator, left the agency citing Makary’s leadership failures. Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. reportedly considered sidelining Makary into a figurehead role as early as November 2025, according to the Journal.
A more recent flashpoint involves a dispute over COVID-19 vaccine studies. The New York Times and Washington Post reported on May 5 that the FDA had blocked publication of research finding that COVID and shingles vaccines were safe. Critics, including a Harvard professor, called this “an act of censorship” and a “major scandal.” However, supporters argue Makary is rebuilding trust in public health by ensuring studies meet rigorous standards, rather than suppressing science. The Free Press defended Makary on May 7, asserting that his FDA has “all the right enemies” and is “doing it the right way” to restore institutional credibility.
Abortion Pill and Other Policy Clash
Another factor in Trump’s decision is the FDA’s handling of mifepristone, the abortion pill. Makary’s approach to the drug has drawn criticism from anti-abortion groups, who see it as insufficiently restrictive. This issue compounds the perception that Makary is out of step with the administration’s agenda, even as Kennedy’s MAHA movement gained steam.
The potential firing would mark the latest departure in a wave of turnover at U.S. health agencies. In recent months, leading officials have left the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and other bodies. The FDA’s top drug development departments are already operating with acting heads.
Perspective: A Health Agency in Turmoil
If Trump follows through on the plan, Makary will join Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary as recent high-profile firings in a second term that initially saw less staff churn than the first. The move signals that Trump is returning to his first-term pattern of demanding rapid loyalty on specific policy items—in this case, flavored vapes—while willing to discard officials who resist.
For the FDA, the upheaval comes at a fraught moment. The agency is already grappling with acting leaders in key roles, internal dissent over vaccine communication, and political pressure from both the White House and anti-abortion activists. Makary’s departure would further destabilize an organization tasked with regulating everything from drug safety to food and tobacco.
Broader trends suggest the administration’s health agenda is becoming increasingly politicized. Trump’s demand to legalize flavored vapes for electoral gain clashes with long-standing public health goals to reduce youth nicotine use. Meanwhile, the MAHA movement, while popular among some conservatives, has raised concerns about scientific integrity and vaccine confidence. As [teen-banned-from-boots-and-holland-barrett-after-ps116000-shoplifting-spree] shows, public health policies can have unexpected ripple effects.
Makary’s future hangs in the balance. If he is fired, the next FDA commissioner will inherit an agency torn between Trump’s political demands, Kennedy’s reformist vision, and the public’s need for evidence-based regulation. The stakes are high: missteps on vaccine approvals, drug reviews, or tobacco policy could have lasting consequences for American health.
Reporting contributed by Reuters and The Daily Beast. This story was published on May 8, 2026.
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