Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and outspoken critic of the medical establishment, has been nominated to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
His nomination aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push for a more skeptical approach to government health policies.
Makary’s Controversial Stances
COVID-19 Critic: Opposed vaccine mandates, called the FDA “broken”, and frequently appeared on Fox News questioning pandemic policies.
Medical Establishment Critique: Wrote books accusing experts of “getting the science perfectly backwards,” highlighting cases where medical advice changed over time (e.g., peanut allergy guidelines).
Health Concerns and Food Safety: Suggested that pesticides, fluoride, and food additives could contribute to rising infertility, ADHD, and other conditions.
The FDA is known for caution and neutrality, while Makary is known for bold, sweeping statements.
Critics worry that he might bow to political pressure from Kennedy and others on vaccines and public health policies.
Supporters argue he values evidence and transparency, which could reform an agency they believe is overly bureaucratic.
Makary will face Senate questioning on Thursday, where lawmakers will probe whether his contrarian approach will help or hurt the FDA’s credibility.