Kyle Diamantas Named Acting FDA Commissioner

Kyle Diamantas, the former deputy commissioner for food at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been named acting FDA commissioner following the resignation of Marty Makary. According to The Guardian, Diamantas will serve in this role temporarily while the search for a permanent replacement is underway.

Makary's 13-month tenure at the agency was marked by controversy and frustration from both sides of the aisle, as reported by multiple outlets including The Los Angeles Times. He clashed with lawmakers on Capitol Hill about drug regulation decisions and faced criticism for his handling of a review of mifepristone, an abortion medication. The White House reportedly grew increasingly impatient with what it viewed as Makary's slow movement on key policy initiatives, such as legalizing flavored vapes.

Diamantas, who previously served as the FDA deputy commissioner for food, oversaw FDA nutrition and food safety protocols. He also set the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the US while serving as a liaison between the FDA, the health and human services department, and the White House. According to The Guardian, Diamantas is generally viewed as a non-controversial pick to temporarily lead the agency.

Prior to his role at the FDA, Diamantas was a corporate lawyer who defended Abbott Laboratories in a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to inform parents that its formula for premature infants increased the risk of a deadly gastrointestinal condition. In 2024, Abbott lost the lawsuit and was forced to pay $495m. According to The Guardian, Diamantas is also apparently a close friend of Donald Trump Jr.