Marty McCulley Resigns as FDA Commissioner

Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Marty McCulley, is set to resign on Tuesday after just over a year in the role. His departure follows reports from Politico, which noted that President Donald Trump has approved plans to remove him from the agency.

Trump confirmed McCulley’s resignation during a press briefing, referring to him as a “great guy” and mentioning that his assistant would temporarily take over. McCulley was said to “continue and live a good life,” a somewhat mysterious but positive note from the President.

Additionally, Trump expressed gratitude for McCulley’s contributions on social media, stating that he accomplished much during his tenure and that he is respected within the medical community. The President also revealed that Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food, would fill in as acting commissioner, praising his talent and reputation among the administration.

Diamantas has gained traction within the Trump administration and the Make America Healthy Again movement. He recently worked as a senior adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His extensive experience with various federal and state bodies, along with advocacy groups, positions him well for his new responsibilities.

The White House has not commented on the situation so far, leaving some questions unanswered.

In a social media post, Republican Missouri State Senator Josh Hawley expressed support for McCulley’s exit, suggesting it is good news, alluding to dissatisfaction over McCulley’s decisions regarding the pro-life movement.

Speculation around McCulley’s resignation had been building, particularly regarding his handling of controversial drug approvals and regulatory practices concerning vaccines and specific drugs, including mifepristone.

McCulley, who has a background as a surgeon and health policy researcher, was confirmed in March 2025 after a bipartisan Senate vote. Throughout his time, he faced scrutiny from Trump for lagging in actions on flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine products.

Some members of the Trump administration, including Secretary Kennedy, have previously discussed limiting McCulley’s role, citing management issues and concerns about his effectiveness. An anonymous FDA official remarked that McCulley would not be missed, hinting at broader dissatisfaction within the agency.