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Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., has taken the oath of office to become the 27th Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner. Last week, Dr. Makary was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, sweeping changes came to the FDA as Dr Brian King, who served as Director for the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), has left that role.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Makary to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in a statement. “He is a national leader in medicine with impeccable credentials. His extensive research, clinical experience, and national leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead the FDA as we work together to Make America Healthy Again.”
“I am honored and humbled to assume this role at the FDA under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy,” said FDA Commissioner Makary. “I look forward to working with this Administration and the FDA workforce to advance our shared goals in meeting the agency’s public health mission. As Commissioner, I hope to ensure that the FDA holds to the gold standard of trusted science, transparency, and common sense so that we can Make America Healthy Again.”
Dr. Makary’s position on premium cigars is very much unknown, but it also doesn’t appear that the FDA will focus on them.
King has been placed on administrative leave. Some sources suggest that he has been offered a reassignment to the Indian Health Service. As head of the CTP, King was the top tobacco regulator in the FDA. King’s removal comes after several other CTP staffers were dismissed. With the Trump Administration focusing on easing regulations, and several initiatives by the FDA have been tabled, these moves are no surprise.
