US president-elect Donald Trump has nominated Martin Makary, a prominent surgeon and writer, to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency responsible for regulating drugs, medical devices, and food safety. The FDA’s budget exceeds $7 billion, and its decisions impact public health across the globe.
Makary, a physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and chief of islet transplant surgery, is known for his outspoken views on what he describes as “massive overtreatment” in the healthcare system. His recent book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What It Means for Our Health, published in September, critiques the overuse of medical interventions in the US, which he calls an “epidemic of inappropriate care.” In a statement announcing his nomination, Trump emphasized Makary’s need to “course-correct and refocus” the agency.
The FDA oversees the approval of new treatments, ensuring they are safe and effective before entering the US market. It also sets safety standards for food, tobacco, and cosmetics. Trump stated that he was confident Makary would work to cut bureaucratic red tape at the agency and ensure that Americans have quicker access to the medical cures they deserve.
Makary’s views on public health have sparked debate, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has written in the Wall Street Journal about the importance of natural immunity and opposed blanket vaccine mandates, although he supports the use of vaccines. As FDA Commissioner, Makary would report to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, an environmental activist, has previously spread misinformation about vaccines but has pledged to address chronic disease and clean up corruption in the health sector if confirmed by the Senate.
Makary’s appointment may shift the FDA’s relationship with pharmaceutical companies. RBC analyst Brian Abrahams suggested that Makary’s skepticism toward medication overuse could lead to a more cautious and less collaborative approach to drug approvals. Makary’s medical career includes co-developing the Surgery Checklist, a global protocol designed to improve surgical outcomes, and advocating for reforms in hormone replacement therapy, antibiotic use, and medical education.
In another significant announcement, Trump named hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his nominee for Treasury Secretary. Bessent, CEO of Key Square Group, has called for tax cuts, deregulation, and measures to tackle the federal deficit. Trump praised Bessent as a leading international investor and strategist, emphasizing his role in executing the president-elect’s economic agenda. Bessent’s nomination comes as Trump plans sweeping tax cuts and tariffs, and his leadership could significantly impact both domestic and international economic policies.
Both nominations signal Trump’s intent to reshape key government agencies, focusing on streamlining regulations and reducing the role of bureaucracy in public health and economic policy.
