US president-elect Donald Trump has selected surgeon and author Martin Makary to head the Food and Drug Administration, the leading global drug regulator with a budget exceeding $7 billion (€6.7 billion).
Dr. Makary, a physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the chief of islet transplant surgery, has expressed concerns about what he terms as “massive overtreatment” in the U.S., referring to it as “an epidemic of inappropriate care.” His latest book, “Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What It Means for Our Health,” was released in September.
In his announcement, Mr. Trump stated that Dr. Makary was essential “to course-correct and refocus the Agency.”
The FDA oversees both human and veterinary drugs, medical devices, and vaccines, ensuring new treatments are safe and effective before they enter the world’s largest and most profitable healthcare market.
Donald Trump expressed confidence in Martin Makary’s ability to ‘reduce bureaucratic obstacles at the Agency.’
Mr. Trump expressed confidence that Dr. Makary would “reduce the bureaucratic obstacles at the Agency to ensure Americans receive the medical cures and treatments they deserve.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Makary published essays in the Wall Street Journal where he raised alarms about various public health issues, advocating for the protective effects of natural immunity, and opposing vaccine mandates for the general public, albeit he did not oppose the vaccines themselves.
If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Makary will report to Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and activist known for spreading vaccine misinformation, has committed to combating chronic disease, eliminating corruption, and providing Americans with necessary data to make informed health decisions.
RBC analyst Brian Abrahams noted in a research report that Dr. Makary might adopt a more industry-critical stance than his predecessor.
The FDA oversees human and veterinary drugs, medical devices, and vaccines, ensuring they are safe and effective.
“Dr. Makary could lead the agency to adopt a more critical view of drugmakers, with his critiques on medication overuse possibly fostering a more skeptical and restrictive environment around approving drugs that have uncertain or limited benefits,” Mr. Abrahams wrote.
As a physician, Dr. Makary was a co-developer of the Surgery Checklist, a procedure that improved surgical outcomes and has been endorsed globally by the World Health Organization.
He has championed efforts to re-evaluate hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, curb unnecessary antibiotic use, and improve medical education reforms.
Residing in Baltimore, Dr. Makary has also been an adviser to the Washington conservative think tank, Paragon Health Institute.
He will take over from Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist and researcher who was FDA commissioner under the Obama administration. During his second term under President Joe Biden, Dr. Califf modernized the agency’s food operations and inspections process while attempting to combat misinformation.
Treasury Secretary Nomination
Additionally, Mr. Trump appointed billionaire Scott Bessent as his Treasury Secretary, selecting the hedge fund manager to implement a plan focused on tax cuts and tariffs.
Mr. Bessent, CEO of Key Square Group, advocates for extending tax cuts from Mr. Trump’s first term, aims to reestablish American energy supremacy, and believes addressing the budget deficit is crucial.
Scott Bessent is the chief executive officer of Key Square Group.
“Scott is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading international investors and economic strategists,” Mr. Trump stated.
“He will help usher in a new golden era for the United States, solidifying our status as the leading global economy,” he added, emphasizing that Mr. Bessent would also work to “revitalize the private sector and tackle the unsustainable trajectory of federal debt.”
The nomination of Mr. Bessent—who recently acted as an advisor to Mr. Trump—positions him to be instrumental in executing the president-elect’s economic agenda, from advancing tax cuts in Congress to managing relationships with nations like China.
The role holds significant sway over both domestic and international policies.
With Mr. Trump promising extensive tariffs on both allies and adversaries, all eyes will be on how his new Treasury chief balances supporting these efforts while managing trade tensions that could disrupt the global economy.
The Treasury Department oversees various areas, including federal finances and bank regulation, in addition to managing U.S. sanctions.
Recently, Mr. Bessent has advocated for tax reform and deregulation to spur economic growth.
