President Trump has signed a memo to remove FDA commissioner Dr. Marty Makary after a recent series of confrontations over vaping regulations, the abortion medication mifepristone and a string of new‑drug denials that unsettled biotech firms. Makary, a former Johns Hopkins surgeon, spent the past year on television promoting faster approvals and attempts to restore morale after a wave of staff exits.

White House officials urged Makary to approve flavored e‑cigarettes. After a March memo limited flavors to mint, tea and spice, the agency unexpectedly cleared blueberry and mango products from Los‑Angeles startup Glas on Tuesday. Susan B. Anthony Pro‑Life America and former Vice President Mike Pence intensified calls for his dismissal, accusing him of delaying a safety review of the abortion pill.

Biotech investors view Makary’s ouster as a warning that political pressure may outweigh scientific judgment, potentially slowing approvals for rare‑disease therapies and inflating development costs. Tobacco‑related earnings could rise if flavored vaping products return to market, while abortion‑rights advocates fear further regulatory hurdles. The move underscores how regulatory leadership now sits at the intersection of health policy and electoral finance.